














Class W L. 7 

Book . h 1 ft 

CocvriiM ? ^ \ 


COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 































































































N 








































































* 
































































































































. 






























































y V 






' 

































































































































































































'TWO FIGURES BOUNDED UPON 
1 THE WALLS 


I 



FIGHTING 

KING 

GEORGE 


S' 

John T M c Intyre 


lUwsIrdcd 

siy 

J A Grabber 


THEPENNc^ 
PUBLISHING 
C OMPANYc^ 
PHILADELPHIA 
iA C M V 



UBR ARY of CONGRESS 1 

iwu Copies rtoceivod 

Apg 26 1905 

Jouyrigni smiry 

Jh>r. ZJv'far, 

4iio&$ Jf AXc. Ww 

7 

ttUPY tJ. 


■fi%r 

& 


Copyright 1905 by The Penn Publishing Company 


••• : 
«• • 

* «* • 

• « < 


Fighting King George 


0£f~ /j? ^ 


I 


l 

Contents 


I How Fort Johnson Fell 7 

II How Tom Deering Made a Name . 31 

III How the British Ships Ran From 

Charleston Harbor 57 

IV How Two Men Buried a Chest of 

Gold 84 

V How Tom Joined Marion's Brigade . 101 


VI How Francis Marion Heard Good 

News From Williamsburg . . . 123 

VII How Tom Deering Fought With 

Gates at Camden 140 

VIII How Tom Braved the Tories . . . 148 

IX How Tom Deering Held the Stair- 


case 174 

X How Marion’s Men Lay in Ambush 

and What Came of It .... 200 

XI How Tom Met With a Blindfold 

Adventure 213 

XII How Tom Took Part in,a Mysterious 

Consultation 245 


3 


4 


CONTENTS 


XIII How the Unexpected Happened on 

Christmas Eve 261 

XIV How the British Lost Some Prisoners, 283 
XV How Tom Deering Fought His First 

Fight Upon the Sea 306 

XVI How Tom Deering Served With 

General Greene 322 

XVII How a Traitor to His Country was 

Taken and Lost 337 

XVIII How Tom Deering Rode With 

Washington at Yorktown . . . 350 


Illustrations 

PAGE 

Two Figures Bounded Upon the Walls 

Frontispiece 

Marion Took the Packet 62 

“ They Are Rare Good Lads, All of 

Them,” Spoke the Burgess 134 

Step by Step He was Beaten Back ... 194 

“This Gentleman,” Said Cornwallis, 

“Will Introduce You” 252 

“Well Aimed,” Praised Mr. Johnson . . 316 

The Officer Sprang Forward 344 


% 


Fighting King George 

CHAPTER I 

HOW FORT JOHNSON FELL 

“ The wind’s changing again, Cole,” said 
Tom Deering, as he threw his rudder handle 
to leeward in order that the sheet might catch 
the full benefit of the breeze. 

The person to whom he spoke was a negro, 
young in years but of colossal size ; as he sat 
amidships in the skiff, with the sheet rope in 
his hand, his sleeveless shirt showing his 
mighty arms bare to the shoulder, he resem- 
bled a statue of Hercules, cut out of black 
marble. Tom Deering was about sixteen, 
and the son of a rich planter, just below 
Charleston ; he was a tall, strongly built boy 
for his years, but beside the giant negro slave 
he looked like an infant. Cole had been born 


7 


8 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


upon Tom’s father’s plantation and was about 
five years the elder ; the two were inseparable ; 
where Tom went the huge black followed him 
like a shadow. 

When he had the sail drawing nicely, Tom 
continued : 

“ I wonder, Cole, how all this is going to 
end?” 

Cole shook his woolly head and grinned ; 
then suddenly his face changed and he held 
up one hand as though bidding his young 
master to listen. 

From across the bright stretch of water be- 
tween them and the shore came a drum beat ; 
the evening sun slanted down upon the white 
crests and upon the meadow-lands below the 
city. No one was in sight, but the hollow 
rub-a-dub of the drum continued. Seeing his 
master had caught the sound Cole turned and 
silently pointed out into the bay. 

Two armed vessels, flying the British flag, 
were standing on and off Sullivan’s Island. 
From where he sat in the stern of the skiff, 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


9 


Tom’s keen eyes noticed that an unusual air 
of alertness hung about the vessels ; and the 
wind now and then carried toward them the 
sound of an officer’s command sharply spoken 
through a trumpet. 

“ It’s the Tamar and the Cherokee,” said 
Tom. “ They’ve been lying in Rebellion 
Roads for the last couple of days. When I 
saw them up anchor an hour ago I thought 
something was going to happen, and I was 
right. Perhaps Colonel Moultrie is going to 
strike a blow for liberty and South Carolina 
at last.” 

It was the fourteenth of September, in the 
year 1775. Because of the oppressive acts of 
the mother country, the British colonies in 
North America had risen in protest. But 
their words had been mocked and jeered at 
by King George and his counselors ; and the 
heavy burdens of the afflicted colonies were 
only added to. This was more than a spirited 
people could stand ; so from words the col- 
onists proceeded to deeds ; in the April before 


io FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

the first shot of the Revolution had been fired 
at Lexington ; and now South Carolina was 
about to follow the glorious example of her 
sister state in New England. 

If the people of Boston had a “ tea party” 
in Massachusetts Bay, so had the residents of 
Charleston one in the Cooper river. The 
public armory of the town was broken open 
during one dark night and eight hundred 
stand of arms, two hundred cutlasses, besides 
cartouches, flints and other material of war 
were seized by the patriots. Another party 
possessed itself of the powder at a town near 
by ; while still another emptied Cochran’s 
magazine. 

An army of two thousand infantry and 
four hundred horse had been raised by the 
colony. This force was divided into three 
bodies ; the second regiment was placed under 
the command of Colonel Moultrie, a gallant 
Indian fighter who had served with credit in 
the campaigns against the Cherokee nation. 

The tap of the drum from the town came to 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 1 1 

the boys’ ears every little while ; the wind was 
blowing freshly and the sail of the heavy skiff 
bellied to it, causing her bow to cut through 
the water at a great rate. 

“ We’ll soon be on the ground, Cole,” said 
Tom, peering under the boom to see how far 
they were away from their usual mooring- 
place when they sailed up to Charleston. 
“ If it’s Colonel Moultrie’s men being sum- 
moned together for service perhaps the hour 
is at hand when you can settle your account 
with those who treated you so inhumanly.” 

The giant held up one great arm, its huge 
muscles standing out in knots ; the fist 
clinched and was shaken at Fort Johnson, on 
James Island, whose guns grinned wickedly 
across the calm water and whose sentries 
could be seen pacing backward and forward 
on the bastions. There was an expression of 
hate in the face of the slave ; he turned to 
Tom, a strange sound coming from his throat, 
the forefinger of his left hand pointing to his 
open mouth. Tom reached forward and 


12 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


pressed Cole’s hand and his dark eyes glowed 
as he swept his glance toward the British flag 
which flowed from the tall staff at Fort 
Johnson. 

Cole, by a horrible act of brutality, had 
been rendered dumb ! 

A year before, during one of the spasmodic 
outbreaks of indignation which had become 
so frequent, the authorities had occasion to 
suspect Tom Deering’s father of some act 
against the government. 

A party of dragoons were sent to his 
plantation to secure evidence against him ; 
the leader of this party was a young and 
arrogant lieutenant, noted for his cruelty 
even to his own men. The colossal size of 
Cole at once attracted the officer’s attention 
when the slaves were summoned to testify 
against their master. 

“ We’ll have this fellow out,” cried he, 
pointing to Cole. “ He’s the one that will 
tell us what we want to hear. He knows ; I 
can see ib in his face.” 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 13 

In vain Cole protested his ignorance of 
anything his master had done. 

“ You know, you black hound,” thundered 
the dragoon. “ Tie him up, men ; we’ll make 
him talk fast enough.” 

Cole was bound to a cottonwood-tree in 
front of his master’s door ; he continued to 
protest that he knew nothing, but in vain. 
The elder Deering and Tom were detained by 
a sergeant and a file of men inside the house 
and consequently had no knowledge of what 
was going forward without. 

They heard the angry voice of the young 
lieutenant raised now and then in a shower 
of horrible oaths, apparently urging his 
men to the commission of something which 
they were reluctant to do. At length a 
dreadful scream sounded — a sharp, agonizing 
cry that caused the planter and his son to 
turn pale and stare at one another with eyes 
filled with horror. Then the sergeant and his 
file were hurriedly called from the house ; as 
they were mounting in the yard, Tom and his 


14 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

father rushed out ; Cole hung limp against 
the ropes that bound him to the tree, covered, 
with blood. As the hoofs of the dragoons' 
chargers grew faint down the road, it was 
discovered what had occurred. Wild with 
rage at what he considered Cole’s defiance the 
brutal officer had had the slave’s jaws pried 
open, and had cut his tongue with the point 
of his sabre. 

The great strength of the giant negro and 
his superb condition carried him through the 
effects of this barbarous act ; in a remarkably 
short time he had recovered; but he was 
deprived of speech forever ; it was only in 
gestures such as that which he had made 
against Fort Johnson that he could convey 
the longing that filled him, to come to hand- 
grips with those who had treated him so in- 
humanly. 

They had reached the wharf and were run- 
ning in alongside ; Cole loosed the halyard 
and lowered the sail. While he was furling 
it, he stopped suddenly, and by his gestures, 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 15 

which Tom could read very plainly, he called 
the attention of his companion to a strange 
stillness on the river. 

Tom gazed up and down the stream for a 
moment and his eyes snapped. 

“ All the shipping has dropped down the 
river,” cried he. “ That can only mean 
one thing ! Colonel Moultrie is about to 
attack ” 

“ Belay there, nevvy,” growled a rough 
voice, almost in his ear. “ Not quite so slack 
with the jaw tackle.” 

“ Uncle Dick,” exclaimed Tom, in sur- 
prise. 

“ Yes, it’s the old sea-horse,” responded the 
owner of the voice, from above them on the 
wharf. 

“ You frightened me,” laughed Tom, as he 
climbed up over the wharf log. 

“ My frightening you, nevvy,” said the 
other, “ will be nothing to the scare you’ll get 
if any of Governor Campbell’s spying swabs 
heard what you were just now going to say.” 


16 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


Uncle Dick, or as the world knew him, 
Capt. Richard Deering of the schooner De- 
fence, nodded in a friendly fashion to Cole, 
who grinned back, from his seat in the bow of 
the skiff. The captain of the Defence was a 
sturdy-looking man of about fifty, with his 
long, gray hair gathered in a cue, sailor- 
fashion ; his weather-tanned face was smoothly 
shaven ; he wore a round, glazed hat, a short 
pilot coat with metal buttons and long leather 
boots. 

“ What is going on, Uncle Dick ? ” asked 
Tom, seating himself at the old salt’s side. 
“ I heard a drum beat while we were sailing 
in the shallows below the town and noticed 
the Cherokee and the Tamar standing up and 
down, with all hands ready.” 

Captain Deering spat carefully over the 
wharf log into the water ; and then looked 
up and down the river. 

“ There is going to be something happen on 
this river to-night,” said he, “ that in the days 
to come they’ll write in their history books. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 17 

See all them boats pulled up on the sand, 
above there ? ” 

There was a long line of galleys and barges 
and other heavy boats lying half out of the 
water, under guard of some half dozen men. 

“ Behind them trees, further up,” continued 
Captain Deering, “ is the whole of Colonel 
Moultrie’s command — or, at least, all of them 
as can be got together at short notice.” 

“ Then it is coming at last,” breathed Tom, 
his eyes aglow. “ South Carolina is to strike 
for her liberty as those in the north struck, 
months ago.” 

“She is,” cried Captain Deering, catching 
some of his nephew’s enthusiasm. “ Blow 
my tarry tops, lad, we can’t let those Lexing- 
ton fellows beat us in the cause. The first 
shot out of the locker is to be the capture of 
Fort Johnson ; I know, for I collected the 
boats up there ; the attacking party is going 
to cross the river in them. Those chaps keep- 
ing watch are from the crew of the Defence.” 

“ When is the affair to begin ? ” asked 


20 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

her into the wind, and away she raced up the 
river. 

The dragoons could still be seen proceeding 
at their sharp pace along the river road ; the 
black, lowering figure still rode in the midst 
of them, his hand still upon the hilt of his 
sword. 

“ It’s good,” said Tom, “ that there is a 
ridge between the road and the river, just 
above there ; otherwise they’d see the boats, 
and maybe would try to scatter them and so 
break up the attempt on the fort.” 

Captain Deering smiled. 

“ Moultrie is nearer than you think for, 
nevvy,” said he. “ A whistle from one of my 
fellows there on shore would bring a hundred 
men to the boats in five minutes.” The skiff 
turned a wooded headland at this moment. 
“ Look there ; what did I tell you?” 

Upon a smooth piece of ground, which the 
trees had hidden until they rounded the head- 
land, was gathered the slender force of South 
Carolina ; an awkward-looking body of men, 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 21 


poorly armed, and with a total lack of sol- 
dierly appearance. They were mostly plant- 
ers, woodsmen and artisans who had volun- 
teered for service to their country, without 
hope of pay. They wore their ordinary dress, 
though here and there there was an attempt 
at military smartness ; their weapons were 
fowling-pieces, cutlasses, axes and the plun- 
der of the town arsenal. They were drawn 
up in order and their officers were putting 
them through a drill. 

The distance by water to this point was 
much shorter than by road ; the skiff had 
lowered its sail and run its nose up on the 
sand before the dragoons reached the spot. 
Captain Deering was just about to hail the 
militia when there was a flash of red from 
amidst the green of the trees and Lord Camp- 
bell and his company came into view. So 
sudden was their appearance that the un- 
trained militia would have been thrown into 
confusion at the bare sight of them had it not 
been for the sharp commands of their officers. 


20 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

her into the wind, and away she raced up the 
river. 

The dragoons could still be seen proceeding 
at their sharp pace along the river road ; the 
black, lowering figure still rode in the midst 
of them, his hand still upon the hilt of his 
sword. 

“ It’s good,” said Tom, “ that there is a 
ridge between the road and the river, just 
above there ; otherwise they’d see the boats, 
and maybe would try to scatter them and so 
break up the attempt on the fort.” 

Captain Deering smiled. 

“Moultrie is nearer than you think for, 
nevvy,” said he. “ A whistle from one of my 
fellows there on shore would bring a hundred 
men to the boats in five minutes.” The skiff 
turned a wooded headland at this moment. 
“ Look there ; what did I tell you?” 

Upon a smooth piece of ground, which the 
trees had hidden until they rounded the head- 
land, was gathered the slender force of South 
Carolina ; an awkward-looking body of men, 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 21 


poorly armed, and with a total lack of sol- 
dierly appearance. They were mostly plant- 
ers, woodsmen and artisans who had volun- 
teered for service to their country, without 
hope of pay. They wore their ordinary dress, 
though here and there there was an attempt 
at military smartness ; their weapons were 
fowling-pieces, cutlasses, axes and the plun- 
der of the town arsenal. They were drawn 
up in order and their officers were putting 
them through a drill. 

The distance by water to this point was 
much shorter than by road ; the skiff had 
lowered its sail and run its nose up on the 
sand before the dragoons reached the spot. 
Captain Deering was just about to hail the 
militia when there was a flash of red from 
amidst the green of the trees and Lord Camp- 
bell and his company came into view. So 
sudden was their appearance that the un- 
trained militia would have been thrown into 
confusion at the bare sight of them had it not 
been for the sharp commands of their officers. 


22 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


They dressed ranks at the word and wheeled 
to face the dragoons. The latter had their 
weapons ready as they lined up on the verge 
of the woods ; Lord Campbell, his face still 
dark with anger, rode forward toward a small 
group of officers who stood apart within easy 
hearing distance of where Tom stood at the 
water’s edge. 

“What body of men is this?” demanded 
the governor. 

An officer of commanding appearance 
stepped forward. 

“ It is the authorized force of the colony of 
South Carolina,” said he. 

“ Authorized ! ” Lord Campbell’s eyes 
blazed. “ Authorized by whom ? ” 

“ By the Provincial Congress,” returned 
the officer. 

“ There is no power in the colony to collect 
armed bodies of men save my own — under 
the authority of the king. I command you 
all in the name of King George to lay down 
your arms and disperse ! ” 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 23 

His angry glance swept along the gathered 
patriots before him ; his burly frame was 
quivering with rage at the idea to their dar- 
ing to assemble in defiance of his power and 
that of his royal master. But there was no 
movement to obey ; he paused for a moment, 
and then in a voice choking with passion he 
inquired of the officers : 

“ Which of you is Mr. Moultrie? ” 

The question was greeted with dead silence. 
The governor’s face lit up with triumph ; 
their leader was afraid to proclaim himself; 
it would be an easy task to put them down. 

“ I have had information,” cried he fiercely, 
“ that this insurrection is under the leader- 
ship of a Mr. Moultrie. Let him stand forth.” 

A small, dark officer of infantry stepped 
forward. 

“ In this command,” said he, “ I will ven- 
ture to say that there is no Mr. Moultrie. 
But,” he paused and looked the wrathful 
governor in the eye with great coolness, 
“ there is, however, a Colonel Moultrie.” 


24 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


“ Ah ! ” Lord Campbell stared at the 
speaker with a bitter sneer. “ Then will 
Colonel Moultrie have the goodness to step 
forward ? ” 

The officer who had answered him in the 
first instance, advanced, a quiet smile upon 
his handsome face. 

“ Colonel Moultrie,” blazed forth the angry 
king’s man, not giving the other a chance to 
speak, “ do you or do you not intend to dis- 
perse this gathering? ” 

“ It is not in my power,” answered Colonel 
Moultrie. 

“ Do you not command them ? ” 

“ I do ; under the Council of Safety.” 

“ Bah 1 ” The governor’s teeth snapped in 
a fury of rage at this. “ That is all one 
hears these days — the Provincial Congress, 
the Committee General, the Council of Safety. 
I know nothing and care nothing for these 
rebels against the king and their usurped 
authority. I recognize none but you in this 
matter. You are here at the head of an 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 25 

armed force, in open rebellion ; and I call 
upon you to lay down your arms and uncon- 
ditionally surrender yourself, in the king’s 
name. Refuse and you must take the conse- 
quence of your folly.” 

Tom Deering, with a thrill at his heart, saw 
the small, dark officer, who had spoken so coolly 
to Lord Campbell, step back and give a com- 
mand to his company in a low voice. The line 
of the militia closed in a resolved fashion and 
the ducking guns were held in instant readi- 
ness for use. Lord Campbell saw it, also ; and 
he saw the determined faces of those before 
him ; a glance at his own slender company 
showed him that smart and soldier-like though 
they were, they were not a match for the 
assembled patriots. He turned to Colonel 
Moultrie, who still stood quietly watching 
him. 

“ You refuse ? ” 

“ Can you doubt it ? ” 

Without a word the governor wheeled his 
horse and rode back to his men ; another 


26 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


moment and they were going down the river 
road at the same sharp gallop with which 
they had arrived. 

Dusk had thrown its shadows across the 
waters of the river ; the lights at Fort Johnson 
began to twinkle. Colonel Moultrie and his 
officers consulted together. The sharp busi- 
ness-like departure of Lord Campbell and his 
men was not at all to their liking. In a few 
moments they had summoned Captain Deer- 
ing, of the Defence, and after a few questions 
the latter turned and beckoned to Tom. 

“ Captain Deering,” said Colonel Moultrie, 
smilingly, “ tells us that you are a patriot and 
a native son of the colony.” 

“ I am both, sir,” answered Tom, gravely. 

“ Good ! You saw the Cherokee and Tamar 
under sail in Rebellion Roads a while ago, I 
understand.” 

“ I did, sir,” said the boy. 

“ Did they seem as though they intended to 
ascend the river ? ” 

“ No, sir.” Tom answered the question 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 27 

quickly enough ; then the actions of the two 
vessels came back to him, and he added, a 
light breaking upon him : “ But they seemed 
as though they’d like to ; it was just as though 
they were waiting for a signal.” 

“ And that,” cried Colonel Moultrie, “ is 
just exactly what they are waiting for. And 
Lord Campbell is now on his way to give it. 
Gentlemen,” turning to his officers, “ we must 
cross the river and make the attempt upon the 
fort at once ; otherwise we will have two war 
vessels scattering cannon shot among us in our 
passage.” 

The orders were quickly given ; the patriot 
force was soon at the water’s edge, embarking 
in the boats which Captain Deering had 
collected. Small as their numbers were, the 
boats were too few to accommodate them, and 
a good quarter were forced to remain behind. 
The attacking party had pushed off and was 
already pulling toward the fort through the 
quickly gathering darkness, when the small, 
dark officer who had spoken so coolly to Lord 


28 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


Campbell, came hurrying along. He had 
been making a disposition of the companies 
remaining behind and now seemed destined 
to be left also. He dashed out waist deep in 
the river in an effort to catch the last galley, 
but too late. At that moment Tom Deering’s 
skiff passed slowly by ; there was room for 
another, and Tom called eagerly : 

“ Climb in, captain. We’re going, too ; 
and we’ll land you there ahead of any of 
them.” 

With a hasty word of thanks the officer 
scrambled into the boat and took up a 
position in the bow, from which point he 
could see all that was going forward. 

This was Tom Deering’s first meeting with 
Francis Marion, afterward to become the great 
partisan chief of the Revolution and be known 
to the world as the Swamp-Fox. 

Within an hour the attacking party had 
arrived at James Island and deployed in the 
darkness before the walls. Marion had sprung 
ashore as soon as the prow of the skiff grated 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 29 

upon the sand; Tom and Cole were left alone, 
for they had touched at a point slightly further 
down than Colonel Moultrie's men. 

“ I'm glad Uncle Dick did not cross in our 
skiff," said Tom to Cole, as they drew the boat 
up on the sand. “ Now we can look into 
things on our own account." 

While the militia was arranging, front and 
rear, for the attack, the boy and his com- 
panion were stealing through the bush that 
grew thickly about the walls of the fort, and 
wondering at the silence within. It required 
a half hour for Moultrie to get everything in 
readiness ; and at last, just as he was about to 
give the word for the attack to begin, two 
figures bounded upon the walls from inside 
the fort ; one was a handsome youth of seven- 
teen ; the other was a giant negro slave. 
Each waved a blazing torch above his head 
exultantly. 

“ Colonel Moultrie," cried Tom Deering, 
“ the place belongs to you. The British have 
fled to their ships." 


30 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

It was true ; the creaking of blocks and the 
dark loom of a mainsail showed them a vessel 
scudding down the river. Fort Johnson had 
fallen without firing a shot. 


CHAPTER II 


HOW TOM DEEDING MADE A NAME 

Tom Deeding and Monsieur Victor St. Mar, 
late of the French army, lowered the small 
swords and stood panting and smiling at each 
other, in the orchard one afternoon, not long 
afterward. 

“ You grow proficient,” said St. Mar in very 
good English, considering that he had been in 
the colonies but a few years, “ your guard is 
excellent and your thrust, monsieur, is grow- 
ing formidable.” 

Praise from the French soldier was praise 
indeed, for he had been a master of the sword 
in the regiments of King Louis, among which 
were the greatest swordsmen in the world. 
He had paused for a time at Charleston on his 
way from New Orleans to Philadelphia ; and 
during his stay he taught the use of his 
favorite weapon to the young men of the city. 

3 1 


32 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

Tom was the youngest and most apt of his 
pupils ; the youth’s strength, length of arm 
and sureness of eye made him a natural 
swordsman. At the French soldier’s praise 
he flushed with pleasure. 

“ I am glad, monsieur,” said he, as he wiped 
his brow, “ that you think I am progressing. 
I like the practice of sword play.” 

“ The rapier,” said the Frenchman, “ is a 
grand weapon — a gentleman’s weapon. I 
have taught many persons, and have studied 
the use of the cutlass, the broadsword, the 
pike, bayonet and dagger ; but the rapier is 
the king of them all ; with three feet of bright 
steel in his hand the master of the sword 
should fear the attack of nothing that 
breathes.” 

He began buckling the long, slender weap- 
ons into their leather case, but paused and 
looked up at Tom, seriously. 

“ Study — practice steadily — experiment. 
That is the way to become a master. You 
have the material in you for a swordsman ; 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 33 

but you must see to the defence — the parry — 
the guard. You Americans, I find, think the 
attack is everything. But it is not so. Study 
the guard. Some day you may meet a foe 
who has a thrust which you have never seen 
before. If you have not the parry to meet it 
your skill in attack will be like that.” 

He snapped his fingers and puffed out his 
cheeks ; then he buckled up his sword-case 
and took his leave with many bows. 

Tom Deering had long been a good 
horseman, a dead-shot with rifle or pistol ; 
but sword-practice was new to him and he 
threw himself into the art with all the ardor 
of his seventeen years. Trouble was brewing 
between the king and his colonies, that was 
evident, and he was anxious to prepare him- 
self for the struggle, for he had firmly made 
up his mind that, should the dark cloud of 
war that he saw gathering burst, he would be 
one of the first to offer himself for service. 

For the capture of Fort Johnson was not 
immediately followed by open war, as all had 


34 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

expected. For some reason the British did 
not make any movement. Lord Campbell, 
the governor, had fled to the Tamar, which 
still lay in the harbor along with the Cher- 
okee, but, except for sending his secretary to 
protest he took no steps. The patriots still 
had a lingering hope that all might yet be 
well ; there were many that clung to the be- 
lief that a reconciliation might yet be effected 
between king and colonies. The proceedings 
of the people of Charleston still wore, how- 
ever loosely, a pacific aspect. Though ac- 
tively preparing for war, they still spoke the 
language of loyalty, still dealt in vague assur- 
ances of devotion to the crown. 

But Tom Deering was wide awake ; he had 
a brain and he used it. The hesitation of the 
colonists would not last long he felt confi- 
dent ; and when they once cast it aside the 
storm would come in earnest — the sword 
would be drawn to be sheathed no more until 
the struggle was lost or won. 

After St. Mar, the sword-master, had taken 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 35 

his departure, Tom took his customary after- 
noon plunge into the river, after which he 
was ready for a visit which he had planned. 
Cole brought his best horse, a powerful, 
intelligent looking chestnut with strong lines 
of speed and bottom, around to the front of 
the house and Tom vaulted lightly into the 
saddle. Cole mounted another horse, a great 
bay, and followed his youthful master, as was 
his custom. There were not many horses 
upon the Deering plantation capable of sup- 
porting the great weight of the giant slave for 
any length of time and still make speed. But 
the bay carried him as though he were a 
feather, hour after hour, sometimes, and never 
showed more than ordinary weariness. 

Tom’s father, a tall, dignified gentleman, 
with the appearance more of a scholar than a 
planter, and bearing scarcely any resemblance 
to his brother, the skipper of the schooner 
Defence, met them on the road near the house. 

“ Are you going up to the city ? ” asked he, 
drawing rein. 


36 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

“ No, sir,” replied his son. “ I'm going 
over to the Harwood plantation. I have not 
been there for some weeks.” 

“You have not been there, I suppose, since 
the taking of Fort Johnson ? ” 

“ No, sir.” 

Mr. Deering looked grave. Jasper Har- 
wood, who owned the large plantations some 
eight miles from them, was his half-brother, 
and he knew his real character better than Tom. 

“ I will not forbid you to go,” said the 
father. “ But it will be just as well if you’d 
stay away.” 

Tom looked surprised. 

“ Why, father, what do you mean ? ” 

Mr. Deering laughed. 

“ After the part you took in the little affair 
of the night of the fourteenth of September,” 
said he, “ I don’t think your presence will be 
very welcome upon the Harwood plantation. 
I hardly think Jasper Harwood looks upon 
the matter from the same point of view as 
you, Tom.” 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 37 

“ Do you mean that he is a king’s man, 
sir,” exclaimed Tom. 

“ I’m sure of it,” answered his father. 

“ I can’t bring myself to believe it, father. 
He is, perhaps, like a great many others just 
now, reluctant to prove disloyal, but when the 
real time comes to act, I think you will find 
him as staunch for the Provincial Congress as 
any of us.” 

Mr. Deering laughed at his son’s earnest- 
ness. 

“ Well, my boy, I trust you’re right, but 
I don’t think so. Jasper Harwood is a Tory, 
and will hardly take the trouble to hide it 
from you. So, you will not be kept long in 
suspense, if you are going there.” 

From the time he left his father and struck 
across the fields and swamps toward the Har- 
wood place, Tom was deep in thought. Per- 
haps his father was right. He knew that 
Jasper Harwood was a harsh, arrogant man, 
with a violent temper and a great respect for 
the crown ; but that he would let the latter 


38 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

blind him to the blessings of liberty, and turn 
his hand and tongue against his neighbors 
and friends was more than Tom, boy like, 
could realize. 

“ But even if the master of the plantation 
himself is a king’s man, there are others there 
who are not,” mused the boy as he loped 
along, followed by Cole on the big bay. “ Mark 
will prove true to the colony, I know. And 
then, there is Laura ! Every throb of her 
heart is of indignation against British op- 
pression. I am confident of that.” 

He was still deep in thought, and they were 
ascending a narrow road that led to the 
Harwood house before Tom realized it. Sud- 
denly Cole uttered his strange cry and touched 
his horse with the spur. In a moment he was 
beside Tom, one hand upon his shoulder, and 
the other pointing to a small clump of trees 
by the roadside near the house. A half 
dozen horses were tied there, and from their 
trappings Tom knew them to be the 
mounts of the king’s dragoons. A like visit 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 39 

to their own plantation was still vivid in his 
mind ; its horrible result to Cole caused all 
sorts of dreadful fears to crowd into his mind, 
and with beating heart he urged his steed for- 
ward at a gallop and threw himself from its 
back before the door. The sound of the 
galloping hoofs coming up the graveled path 
caused a rush to the doors and windows ; 
among a group of red-coated dragoon officers, 
at the top of the high stone steps leading to 
the door, Tom recognized the planter, Jasper 
Harwood. Far from being in any peril, he 
seemed to be very well content, having a long 
churchwarden pipe in his hand, and the 
jovial looks upon the officers’ faces caused the 
boy to banish his fears for his half-uncle’s 
safety, at least. 

There seemed to be a perfect understanding 
between the planter and the dragoons, but as 
he recognized Tom, Harwood’s flush deepened 
into one of anger. 

“ Ha, Master Deering, is it?” cried he, 


40 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


loudly. “ I thought it was a troop of horse 
from the way you came charging up the path.” 

Tom passed the bridle over his arm, and 
leaning against the chestnut’s shoulder he 
stood looking up at the group upon the high 
steps of the mansion. 

“ I am very sorry that I startled you,” he 
said. 

At this the dragoons burst into a roar of 
laughter. 

“ He’s sorry he startled us,” bellowed one, 
his face purple with glee. “ By the Lord 
Harry, but that’s good ! A snip of a boy 
startle a lot of king’s officers.” 

Once more the laughter rang out. Tom 
looked at them composedly enough for a 
time ; but suddenly his face paled, his mouth 
set, and an angry light began to gather in his 
eyes. He looked about for Cole ; but the 
giant negro was not to be seen ; and, after as- 
suring himself of this the lad breathed a sigh 
of relief. For, among the officers at Jasper 
Harwood’s door, he recognized the lieutenant 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 41 

whose brutality had deprived Cole of his 
speech. The sight of the ruffian filled him 
with indignation ; but he knew that it would 
hardly do to give vent to it at this time, so he 
held his peace. 

“ This young blade is a friend of yours, Mr. 
Harwood, I suppose,” spoke this officer, his 
voice thick and husky. 

“ He is from a neighboring plantation,” 
answered Harwood, scowling at Tom, darkly. 

“ Let's have him in,” cried another. “ He 
seems to be an excellent horseman ; let's see 
if he's equally good at other things. Intro- 
duce us, I beg of you, to the youth who is 
good enough to fear that he startled us,” and 
once more they roared. 

“That will, perhaps, follow in good time, 
gentlemen. Meanwhile, don't let the table 
be idle ; keep your knives and forks. I'll 
join you in a few moments.” 

At this hint the dragoons disappeared into 
the mansion, and Harwood was left alone 
with Tom. 


42 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

“ So,” said the planter, after a pause, during 
which his eyes had been searching Tom’s face, 
“ you’ve come, have you? ” 

“ Yes, sir,” answered the lad, wondering 
what the expression upon the man’s face meant. 
“ I thought I’d ride over and see you all.” 

“ I had not thought,” sneered the Tory, 
“ that you would have the courage to face me 
after what you have done.” 

Tom drew himself up proudly. 

“ I have done nothing of which I am 
ashamed,” said he, quietly. 

“ Do you dare stand there and tell me 
that ? Do you tell me to my face that you 
are not ashamed ? ” 

“ Anything that I have done I would do 
again,” declared the boy, boldly. 

“ Oh, I see,” the planter’s sneer returned. 
“ You are saturated with the radical teachings 
of the mob yonder there in the city. And 
with your head full of their accursed doc- 
trines you have dared to raise your hand 
against the king.” 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 43 

“ I have dared to raise my hand against a 
tyrant,” cried Tom, forgetting caution in his 
ardor for the cause. “ If King George does 
not know how to govern a free people it’s high 
time he was learning.” 

The Tory’s face grew dark with wrath ; but 
before he could speak, a boy, who seemed a 
few years Tom’s senior, stepped through the 
doorway. 

“ Just a moment, father,” said he. “ Don’t 
speak while you are angry ; it will only create 
ill blood between relatives, and that should 
not be.” 

This was Mark Harwood, the planter’s only 
son ; he was a thick-set youth with a far from 
prepossessing face, and a sly manner. His 
father looked at him for a moment, in sur- 
prise ; he must have seen something in the 
glance which was directed secretly at him, 
for he held his peace, though the anger did 
not die out of his face. 

Mark Harwood descended the steps, with 
outstretched hand. 


44 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

“ Tom,” said he, with great cordiality in his 
voice, but a lurking look of craft in his eyes 
that the other did not like, “ I’m very glad to 
see you.” 

Tom took the offered hand. 

“ Thank you,” said he. “You are very 
good, Mark.” 

“ Not at all. But tie up your horse and 
come in ; we must have you join us ; as you 
have seen, we are entertaining some friends, 
rare good fellows who will be glad to meet you.” 

“ Thank you, Mark, but I think I had best 
be riding homeward.” 

“ I cannot permit that ! ” Mark took him 
by the shoulder in a very friendly fashion and 
continued, earnestly : “ If we were to allow you 
to go now there would always be a feeling of 
estrangement between us ; you would feel 
that you were not welcome here, and we 
should feel that we had, in an angry moment, 
offended you. Come, don’t let us have a 
mere matter of politics step in between us.” 

“ I’ll not, Mark.” Tom gripped the other’s 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 45 

hand warmly. Then he turned to the planter. 
“ If in a moment of heat, Mr. Harwood,” he 
continued, “ I answered you unbecomingly, I 
beg your pardon.” 

“ Say nothing more about it,” said Har- 
wood. Tom tied his horse under the window, 
as he expected to remain but a few moments ; 
he did not catch the looks that passed between 
father and son as he did so ; if he had he 
would not, probably, have crossed their door- 
sill with so light a heart. As he followed 
them through the wide hallway, which ran 
directly through the middle of the house and 
contained an immense fireplace capable of 
accommodating great back logs that would 
last for weeks in the coldest winter, Tom 
happened to glance in at a partly open door- 
way. He caught sight of a beckoning finger ; 
without hesitation he stepped aside, pushed 
open the door and entered. In a moment he 
was eagerly pounced upon by a dark-eyed girl 
of about his own age, or perhaps a year or 
so older. 


46 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

“ Oh, Tom,” she cried, “ I am so glad to see 
you.” 

“ I thought I’d have to go away without 
catching a glimpse of you, Laura,” he re- 
turned. “ And it was to see you, more than 
anything else, that I came.” 

She laughed and looked pleased. 

“ I’m flattered, sir, I’m sure,” she said. 
Then her manner changed suddenly. “ I 
wanted you to come, Tom, ever so much, so 
you could tell me the news of Colonel 
Moultrie’s taking of Fort Johnson. Uncle 
Jasper heard that you were there ; that you 
were the very first over the walls.” 

“ Yes, I was there,” said Tom, proudly, 
“ but Cole was first over the wall ; I was 
second, because he reached down and pulled 
me over after him.” 

Laura Thornton clapped her hands de- 
lightedly. 

“ Oh, you’re so brave, Tom ; I wish I was a 
boy, then I, too, could do something for the 
cause. But they’re all Tories here — uncle, 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


47 

Cousin Mark and all ; I dare not say a word 
of what I think about that hateful old King 
George ! ” 

“ I call that too bad,” said Tom, warmly. 
“ A person should always be allowed to say 
what he thinks.” 

“ That’s what I say, too, but I’m afraid of 
Uncle Jasper, Tom ; he’s so violent when he’s 
angry. Oh, if I could only break out on him 
as you did awhile ago ! I stood at the win- 
dow and heard it all. You were so splendid, 
Tom ; you were not in the least bit afraid of 
him, were you ? ” 

“ Well, I should hope not,” said Tom. 

“ But don’t trust him, Tom,” she whis- 
pered, as though fearful of being over- 
heard. “ Don’t trust him or Mark, either ; 
they both hate you, and just now I heard 
them talking to one of the officers whom 
they are entertaining ; they are going 
to ” 

Here she was interrupted by her uncle’s 
harsh voice, calling : 


48 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

“ Tom ! Tom Deering, I say, where have 
you gotten to ! ” 

A heavy foot sounded upon the bare, 
polished floor of the hall, coming toward the 
door of the room in which they were stand- 
ing. 

“ He's coming," said Tom. 

“ I must tell you about the despatch,” 
said Laura, hurriedly, catching Tom by the 
arm. 

“ The despatch ? ” said he, looking at her 
wonderingly. 

“ Lieutenant Cheyne is to ride with it after 
dark to a point below the city ; there will be a 
boat's crew awaiting to carry him aboard one 
of the king's ships. Oh, Tom, they intend 
to-morrow night to bombard Charleston ! " 

Tom's face paled. 

“ Are you sure ? " he demanded. 

“ I heard it from their own lips. Oh, Tom, 
Tom, what will the poor people do if the 
despatch reaches Lord Campbell’s hands ? " 

“ It shall not reach them," said Tom, firmly. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 49 

“ I’ll give my life, if need be, to prevent 
it.” 

At this moment the door was pushed rudely 
open and Jasper Harwood strode into the 
apartment. 

“ Ha ! ” said he, angrily. “ I find you 
here, do I ! I’ve been bawling all over the 
place for you.” 

“ I saw Laura, sir,” said Tom, “ and just 
paused for a moment to speak to her.” 

“ Well,” growled he, not seeming to relish 
this explanation in the least, “ now that you 
have spoken with her, suppose you come into 
the dining-hall and not keep my guests wait- 
ing for you.” 

Tom pressed Laura’s hands in hurried 
thanks ; his glowing eyes told her how grate- 
ful he was for the information which she had 
just given him. In it he saw a chance to 
serve his country and make a name for him- 
self at the same time. 

The planter led him through the hall, into 
the room in which his dragoon guests were 


50 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

assembled. The table contained some bottles ; 
and, as though by chance, the sword of each 
dragoon lay near him ready to hand. 

“ Ah ! ” said Mark Harwood, as Tom en- 
tered, at the planter’s heels. “ Here you are 
at last ! ” 

There was something like a sneer in his 
tone as he said this ; the officers seemed to 
see a hidden meaning in them, for they 
laughed boisterously and hammered the table 
with their glasses. They made room, how- 
ever, for the boy at the head of the table, as 
though anxious to do him honor. Cheyne, 
the lieutenant who had tortured Cole so bar- 
barously, slapped him familiarly upon the 
shoulder. 

“ Now, fall to, youngster. You’re a pretty 
sprout of a king’s man, and a king’s man 
should never shirk.” 

“ In these times of rebellion,” said Mark 
Harwood reaching forward and filling a 
goblet, which stood upon the table before 
Tom, “ good, loyal subjects are rare. So 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 51 

let us treat them well when they visit 
us.” 

Tom Deering flashed the young Tory a 
rapid glance. 

“ Come, take your glass, my lad,” cried 
Cheyne. 

“ Yes, yes ! ” shouted the others, holding their 
own bumpers aloft, and laughing expectantly. 

“ Pardon, gentlemen,” said the soft voice of 
Mark Harwood. “ I was about to propose a 
toast ! ” 

“ A toast ! A toast ! ” The dragoons sprang 
to their feet as one man, glasses in hand. Tom 
knew by the sudden malice of his Tory cous- 
in's look that it was for this that he had been 
invited into the dining-hall. Something was 
about to occur — something by which he was 
to be humiliated before these British soldiers. 
But with flashing eyes he, too, arose and faced 
the Tory. Mark raised his glass. 

“ Gentlemen,” said he, “ I give you the 
king.” 

“ The king I ” they shouted and were about 


52 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

to drain their goblets when Cheyne stayed 
them. 

“ One moment,” requested he. “ Our 
young friend here does not seem disposed to 
honor the toast.” 

Angry looks came from all sides. The sly, 
oily voice of Mark Harwood reached Tom’s 
ears. 

“ You mistake, gentlemen,” said Mark. 
“ Of course he will join us.” 

By his look Mark was daring Tom to re- 
fuse ; like a flash the latter saw the plan and 
his cheeks flushed with resentment. The 
young Tory thought he would be afraid to 
refuse. In the glance that Tom had darted 
about the room a few moments before he saw 
Laura, unnoticed, standing with frightened 
face in the doorway ; come what may he 
would not be humiliated before her, above all 
others. 

“ The toast ! ” cried the dragoons, eagerly, 
all their eyes fixed upon him with threaten- 
ing looks. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 53 

“ Very well, gentlemen.” Tom quietly put 
down the glass and took up a goblet of water. 
“ I will drink a toast with you.” 

“ Of course he will,” laughed Jasper Har- 
wood, his hard face glowing with triumph at 
what he took to be an exhibition of cowardice. 

“ I never had the slightest doubt of it,” 
sneered Mark. 

“ Yes, gentlemen, I will give you a toast 
that any honest man can drink.” He looked 
about at the expectant British officers and 
then at the sneering Tories ; his voice was 
steady, his hand never trembled. “ I give 
you the Provincial Congress ! ” Amid dead 
silence he lifted the cool water to his lips and 
took a sip ; then he threw the glass into the 
middle of the table, where it smashed into a 
hundred pieces, as he shouted, “ Down with 
the king ! ” 

The dragoons grasped their sabres, but he 
was through the door, out at a window and 
upon his horse’s back before they could act. 
They crowded through the front door and ran 


54 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

along the path toward the place where their 
horses were ; but Tom was already out upon 
the road waving his hat at them defiantly. 
Wheeling his fleet steed he dashed down the 
narrow road, then suddenly pulled up with a 
cry of delight. Almost directly in his path 
was Cole, a wide grin upon his ebony face ; 
upon a long rope he had the dragoons’ horses, 
and at the word was ready to make off with 
them. The British officers discovered their 
loss almost at the same moment, and they 
ran down the rough road, brandishing their 
sabres and shouting a volley of most dreadful 
threats. 

" We’ll take them along with us, Cole,” said 
Tom, laughing. “ Lord Campbell can get 
another supply, but Colonel Moultrie would 
appreciate them very much.” 

So, despite the threats that rang in his ears, 
Tom Deering rode gaily away behind his first 
capture from the enemy. Seeing that he had 
no intention of surrendering their mounts, 
the dragoons soon gave up the chase and 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 55 

returned in no very sweet tempers to the 
mansion of their Tory host. 

Late that night, Lieutenant Gordon Cheyne, 
of Tarleton’s Dragoons, rode slowly, upon a 
borrowed horse, along a deserted road in the 
neighborhood of Charleston. Suddenly, as he 
turned a bend, and just at a place where the 
woods grew thick upon each side of the road, 
a horseman rode into his path and presented 
a pistol at his head. 

“ Stand ! ” ordered the newcomer. 

“What do you want?” demanded the lieu- 
tenant, pulling up suddenly. 

“ Your despatches.” 

Cheyne started, and his hand crept toward 
his holster. 

“Make no movement toward a weapon,” 
said the horseman. “ Give me the despatches, 
and give me them quickly.” 

With a cry Cheyne drew a packet from his 
breast and threw it at the horseman. The 


56 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

latter caught it deftly and stuffed it into his 
boot leg. 

“ Now,” said he, “ about face and return to 
those who sent you.” The officer of dragoons 
wheeled and set off, in a fury, down the road. 
“ And tell them,” called the horseman after 
him, “ that the Provincial Congress has a 
thousand eyes.” 


CHAPTER III 


HOW THE BRITISH SHIPS RAN FROM CHARLES- 
TON HARBOR 

On the 9th of November, which was but a 
few days previous to Tom Deering’s adventure 
with the British, the Provincial Congress of 
South Carolina resolved “ by every military 
operation to oppose the passage of any British 
armament ” ; and this order was issued to the 
commandant at Fort Johnson, Colonel Moul- 
trie. The fort itself was strengthened, more 
men were enlisted, and bills of credit were 
issued. The blow for which all had been 
waiting seemed now about to be struck ; the 
redcoats and patriots were about to grapple 
in that fierce struggle which was to last eight 
long years and set a continent free. 

Colonel Moultrie had taken up his head- 
quarters at HaddrilTs Point, which was being 
57 


58 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

fortified ; it was here that the training of his 
men was going forward, and the place had 
the appearance of quite a formidable camp. 

The eastern sky was beginning to gray 
under the hand of approaching morning, 
when the sentinel on guard at the upper 
road caught the sound of flying hoofs rap- 
idly approaching him. His musket quickly 
came around and he stood ready to receive 
friend or foe. 

“ Halt ! ” he cried. 

The galloping horse was pulled up so 
quickly as to almost throw him back upon 
his haunches. 

“ Who goes there ? ” demanded the sentry. 

“ A friend,” came the voice of Tom Deer- 
ing. 

“ Advance, friend, with the countersign.” 

Tom walked his snorting horse forward. 

“ I have not received the countersign,” said 
he. “ But I have urgent business with Colo- 
nel Moultrie, and must see him at once.” 

“ Against orders,” said the sentry. “ I’ll 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 59 

call out the sergeant of the guard, though, 
and leave him to settle it with you.” 

In a few moments the sergeant had pre- 
sented himself. Tom was led forward into 
the light of a camp-fire, where the sergeant 
carefully questioned him. 

“ I can answer no questions,” said the boy, 
“ unless asked by Colonel Moultrie or ” 

“ Captain Marion, perhaps,” said a voice 
behind him. 

Tom turned quickly ; within a foot of him 
was the small, dark officer with the aquiline 
nose and the burning black eyes, whom he 
had carried across the river in his skiff on the 
night when Fort Johnson was taken. 

Francis Marion was, at this time, past his 
fortieth year. He had been a planter, his 
only previous military experience having 
been in the war with the Cherokees some 
years before ; in this he had gained some 
fame as a leader of a “ forlorn hope ” at the 
battle of Etchoee, in which the Carolinians 
had defeated the French and Indians. Then 


6o FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


he had been a lieutenant in the regiment of 
Middleton. Colonel Moultrie, who was in 
command of the patriot forces, had been cap- 
tain of the company in which Marion served 
at that time. 

“ So,” said Marion, “ you would like to see 
Colonel Moultrie, would you, my lad ? ” 

Tom, holding the bridle of his horse with 
one hand, raised the other in salute. 

“ Yes, captain,” answered he promptly. 

“ Well,” said Marion, “ I owe you some- 
thing for your service that night on the 
river.” He laughed lightly. “ You see, I 
have not forgotten it; nor have I forgotten 
the fact that you, single handed and alone, 
captured a fortified position.” 

Captain Marion was pleased to regard 
Tom’s errand lightly, it seemed ; a boy must 
always prove that his doings are worth the 
consideration of his elders. In spite of the 
fact that he recognized in Tom Deering no 
ordinary lad, Marion could not accept his 
word that his business with Colonel Moultrie 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 61 


was not some hair brained freak. Tom saw 
all this in the dark, smiling face of the soldier 
before him ; and he recognized the fact that 
he must come down to plain dealing and 
take him into the matter before he could 
hope to see the colonel. 

“ Captain Marion,” said Tom, with a glance 
at the sergeant and his file of listening men, 
“ can I have a word in private with you ? ” 

Still smiling, Marion led the boy a little 
way apart, but well out of earshot. 

“ Now,” said he, “ tell me all about it.” 

*• Would you consider it a serious matter,” 
asked Tom, looking him candidly in the eye, 
“ if the British ships came up and bombarded 
the city in the night ? ” 

Marion’s face grew grave, and he glanced 
keenly at the boy’s intent face, an alert look 
stealing into his eyes. 

“ I would consider it very serious,” said he, 
in reply, his voice sober and low. 

“ There is to be such an attack to-night,” 
said Tom. He drew the captured despatches 


62 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


from his boot leg, and held them out. “ This 
packet I took from an officer of Tarleton’s 
dragoons two hours ago, some distance below 
here.” 

“ Have you examined them ? ” 

“ I have, in order to make sure that I was 
not at fault. I did not wish to come here 
with nothing to substantiate my statement.” 

Marion took the packet and glanced hur- 
riedly through the papers. After a moment’s 
examination he said, quietly : 

“ Come with me.” 

Within a quarter of an hour a dozen offi- 
cers were gathered in Colonel Moultrie’s cabin 
in the center of the encampment. The cap- 
tured papers were before them ; Tom Deering 
stood at the table answering the questions 
with which they plied him. 

“ This attempt seems mere madness,” said 
Colonel Moultrie, at length. “ How do they 
hope to get their vessels past the fortified 
points without danger of being destroyed ? ” 

This seemed to be the general opinion of 





MARION TOOK THE PACKET 





FIGHTING KING GEORGE 63 

the council ; but Marion, who happened to 
glance at Tom at that moment, saw an eager 
light in his eyes. 

“ Speak out, lad,” said he, kindly. “ If you 
have anything to say upon this question I 
have no doubt but that Colonel Moultrie will 
be glad to hear it.” 

“ Of course,” said the colonel. “ You have 
done us too great a service already, my boy, 
for us to refuse to listen to you.” 

“ I just wanted to say, sir,” exclaimed Tom, 
eagerly, “ that the British ships can get up to 
the city, and without the slightest danger to 
themselves.” 

The colonel looked startled. 

“You are sure of what you say?” he de- 
manded. 

“ I am positive. They can come up by way 
of Hog-Island channel.” 

“ But that is not deep enough for their 
heavy vessels,” cried an officer. 

“ At high water,” said Tom Deering, calmly, 
“ there is water enough to float the largest 


64 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

ship in their fleet, providing they have a man 
at the wheel who knows the course. I have 
come through the channel many a time with 
my uncle, Captain Deering, of the schooner 
Defence.” 

This information set the council in a state 
of great excitement ; Tom was thanked over 
and over for what he had done. 

“ You have, without doubt,” said Colonel 
Moultrie, “ saved us from making a fatal 
mistake.” 

Before the sun was three hours high a plan 
of action had been formulated and was in 
progress of execution. Captain Deering was 
summoned in hot haste from his schooner, 
which lay in the river, and ordered to cover 
and protect a party detailed to sink a number 
of stone-laden hulks in the narrow Hog- 
Island channel. The Defence, some weeks 
before, had been fitted up with carronades 
and a long thirty pounder cannon, and she 
was just the ready, quick-sailing craft for the 
work. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 65 

By early afternoon the hulks were being 
floated into the channel, the Defence hover- 
ing about them like a great bird watching over 
its young. The work had scarcely begun, 
however, when the British lookouts discov- 
ered it, and the Tamar bore down upon the 
hulks, firing from her bow guns as she came. 
The Cherokee was only a little behind her 
sister craft in promptness of action, and 
opened with her lighter guns, also. The De- 
fence answered with her carronades, but their 
range was not great enough, and she did but 
little damage; the guns from Fort Johnson 
opened ; a few shots were effective ; but the 
firing was discontinued as soon as the British 
war-ships showed signs of hesitation. Mean- 
while the alarm was beat at Charleston, where 
the troops stood to their arms. But the time 
was not yet ; the Tamar and Cherokee, seeing 
that they could not frighten the blockading 
party off, went about and retreated beyond 
range. 

From this time on the local patriots began 


66 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


to proceed vigorously. Ships were impressed 
and armed like the Defence, and they were 
badly needed, for the British in the harbor 
became more and more troublesome. Captain 
Thornborough, the officer in command of 
them, began to seize all vessels within his 
reach, entering or coming out of the port. 

Of the newly-gathered fleet of the Americans 
Captain Deering was placed in charge. Heavy 
artillery was mounted on Haddrill’s Point and 
the work of fortification at the same place was 
hurriedly completed. A new fort was raised 
on Jones’ Island and another one begun on 
Sullivan’s Island, some distance below the 
city ; the volunteers were constantly coming 
in, swelling the ranks of the patriots both 
ashore and afloat. Among these latter was 
Tom Deering’s father ; the planter armed a 
small sloop and manned it with a crew of 
slaves, who gladly offered to follow him 
against the British. 

But Tom, to his father’s surprise, refused to 
join him. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 67 

“ Is it possible, Tom,” demanded he, sternly, 
on the morning upon which he formally took 
charge of the sloop as an officer of the colony, 
“ that you have suddenly grown faint- 
hearted ? ” 

“ Faint-hearted ! I ! ” Tom looked at his 
father reproachfully. “ You don’t think that, 
father, surely ! Have I not done some service, 
already, for the cause of liberty ? — not much, 
of course, but still, enough to prove that I am 
ready to go to any length against oppression.” 

“ You have done some things,” said Mr. 
Deering, his eyes alight with pride, “ that 
have made me thank the good God who had 
given me such a son. But,” and his face 
grew grave once more, “ it seems strange that 
you will not enter the service of the colony, 
now that she needs you.” 

“ I have thought the matter over very care- 
fully,” answered Tom, “ and have concluded 
that I shall be better as I am.” 

“ Tom ! ” his father’s face grew white. 
“ What do you mean ? ” 


68 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


“ If I enlist,” returned Tom, “ I shall be 
forced to march in the ranks and obey orders. 
If I remain free, I can do as I will ; and by 
so doing I can render much more effective 
service. Those despatches which I captured 
are not the only ones that will be carried 
through the outlying districts under the cover 
of night ; there is information to be gained of 
the enemy’s movements and plans, by one 
who knows the roads, the cane-brakes and 
swamps, and has the courage to dare the 
British dragoons. This is the work that I 
have laid out for myself, father, in this fight. 
And this is the work, I think, that I can 
best do.” 

“ Tom ! ” The planter clasped his hand 
and threw one arm about him ; “ forgive me 
for what I have said. I might have known, 
my lad — I might have known.” 

The whole of the long winter and spring 
passed ; the British had all retreated to their 
ships ; while the colonists were deeply ab- 
sorbed ip preparations for the defence of the 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 69 

city. Inland, parties of loyalists, or Tories, 
had risen and were slaying and burning, 
but their ravages were confined to a small 
district as yet. Jasper Harwood, Tom’s half- 
uncle, and his son Mark, were at the head of 
a band of these partisans, and they were carry- 
ing terror wherever they went. Moultrie sent 
small parties in pursuit, now and then ; but 
these only served to check the outrages for a 
space ; when the patriots once more returned 
to the city the slaying and burnings were at 
once renewed. 

Tom did splendid service against these des- 
perate bands. In company with Cole, his 
giant servant, he penetrated very frequently 
into their districts, and often gained informa- 
tion that saved both lives and property. Dur- 
ing this time, Marion, now a major, was in 
command of the depot of supplies at Dorches- 
ter and it was with his small force that Tom 
was most frequently in touch. In this way 
he came to realize the genius and resolution 
of this small, kindly man with the burning, 


7 o 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


deep-set, black eyes; for at no time was he 
unready to spring into the saddle and dash at 
the head of his men to the rescue of some 
imperiled section ; at no time was his inven- 
tion at fault for a plan of onset or ambush. 

But the constant rumors of the coming of 
a strong fleet to reinforce the Cherokee and 
Tamar caused Marion to ask for a change of 
post to Charleston, where he would be more 
actively engaged. This was granted him ; he 
was once more appointed to the Second Regi- 
ment under Colonel Moultrie and stationed 
at Fort Sullivan, on the island of that name 
which stands at the entrance to Charleston 
harbor and within point-blank shot of the 
channel. Tom, during the long months at 
Dorchester had become devoted to Marion 
and this, together with the expectation of a 
battle, caused him to follow him to Fort Sulli- 
van — or Fort Moultrie as it was then called, 
in honor of its commandant. 

Tom helped to build the fort ; for when 
he arrived there it was scarcely more than an 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 71 

outline. It was constructed of palmetto logs, 
a simple square, with a bastion at each angle, 
sufficient to cover a thousand men. The logs 
were laid one upon another in parallel rows, 
at a distance of sixteen feet, bound together 
with heavier timbers which were dovetailed 
and bolted into the logs. The work of con- 
structing this fort was a good preparatory 
lesson for the great conflict that was to follow. 
Tom grew brown and tough and sinewy with 
the long days of labor in the sun ; the won- 
derful strength of Cole, the dumb slave, was 
a constant source of astonishment to both 
officers and men ; to the amazement of all he 
would lift, unaided, a great piece of massy 
timber to crown an embrasure and set it in 
place, or, when horses were scarce, go down 
on the beach and drag the ponderous tree 
trunks from the water. At sight of the open- 
eyed astonishment of those about him he 
would throw back his head, his white teeth 
shining in two even rows, and laugh with the 
perfect glee of a child. 


72 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

In spite of the incessant labor of the sol- 
diers the fort was still unfinished when the 
recently arrived and powerful British fleet 
appeared before its walls. Colonel Moultrie’s 
force consisted of four hundred and thirty- 
five men, rank and file, comprising four hun- 
dred and thirteen of the Second Regiment, 
and twenty-two of the Fourth Artillery. The 
fort at this time mounted thirty-one guns ; 
nine were French twenty-sixes ; six, English 
eighteens ; the remainder were twelve and 
nine pounders. 

The day before the British hove in sight, 
Tom Deering was witness to an exciting 
scene which took place between General 
Charles Lee, whom the Continental Congress 
at Philadelphia had recently sent to take 
command of the Army of the South, and 
Colonel Moultrie. The two officers were 
standing upon a bastion, looking seaward ; 
Tom and Cole were bolting some timbers 
together, near at hand. 

“ It is madness to attempt a defence of this 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 73 

point,” said General Lee. “ The fleet is even 
now in the roadstead and the works, here, are 
far from being finished.” 

“ I disagree with you, general,” returned 
Colonel Moultrie. 

“ But, Colonel Moultrie,” cried General 
Lee, not seeming to relish having his opinion 
so candidly opposed, “ how are you going to 
defend yourself? ” 

“With the guns of the fort,” said the colo- 
nel ; “ and the brave men who will be behind 
them.” 

“ All very well, my dear sir, if it were 
Frenchmen or Spaniards who manned the at- 
tacking fleet ; but they are British ships, sir ! 
British ships, and sailed by British tars ! ” 

General Charles Lee had been trained in 
the English army, and he had, perhaps, nat- 
urally enough, an overweening respect for 
the prowess of an English fleet. It is fortu- 
nate that this feeling of awe was not shared 
by Colonel Moultrie and his men. 

“ Let them once get within range of my 


74 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

heavy guns,” said the colonel, “ and it will 
make no difference as to what nation they 
belong. We shall make them run from 
Charleston harbor, just the same.” 

“ Your fort presents, at present, little more 
than a front to the sea,” protested General 
Lee. “ Once let them get into the position 
for enfilading and you can not maintain your 
position.” 

“ I will risk it,” said Colonel Moultrie. 
His officers were with him in this ; and Lee’s 
authority was not great enough to force them 
to evacuate their position against their will. 

On the 20th day of June, 1776, the British 
ships of war, nine in number, and consisting 
of two vessels of fifty guns, five of twenty- 
eight, one of twenty-six, and a small bomb- 
vessel, sailed up the harbor under the able 
command of Sir Peter Parker. They drew 
abreast of the fort, let go their anchors with 
springs upon their cables, and began a terrible 
bombardment. They strove, after a time, to 
gain a position for the destructive enfilading 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 75 

fire which General Lee so feared ; but the De- 
fence, the Tartar sloop, commanded by Tom’s 
father, and several other small vessels, came 
down boldly and maintained such a stubborn 
resistance, that Sir Peter quickly displayed 
signals ordering the attempt to be abandoned. 

Fort Moultrie at the beginning of the fight 
had but five thousand pounds of powder ; 
this small supply had to be used with great 
care. 

“ Not a shot must be wasted,” cried Colonel 
Moultrie ; “ every one must do execution. 
Let each officer in command of a gun aim it 
in person.” 

This command was obeyed, and its results 
were frightfully fatal to the British and their 
ships. In the battle the Bristol, Sir Peter’s 
flag-ship, lost forty killed and wounded ; Sir 
Peter himself lost one of his arms ; the Ex- 
periment, another fifty gun vessel, lost about 
twice as many. The fire of the fort was di- 
rected mainly at the heavy craft. Tom Deer- 
ing, as he toiled with rammer and sponge at 


76 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

one of the French twenty-six pounders, of 
which Marion had charge, heard that little 
officer constantly call to his brother gunners : 

“ Look to the Commodore — look to the 
heavy ships ; they can do us most damage ! ” 

In the heat of the action the Acteon, one of 
the smaller of the enemy’s ships, being hard 
pressed by the Defence and Tartar, ran 
aground and immediately took fire. At this 
point the British Commodore would have 
been forced to strike his colors, or be des- 
troyed, but suddenly the powder ran out and 
the fire of the fort slackened and finally 
ceased altogether. 

Struck with astonishment at this the 
British also ceased their fire, thinking the 
fort had been abandoned. 

“ We must secure ammunition,” cried 
Colonel Moultrie, his face ashen. Here was 
victory all but in his grasp, and to have to 
give it up would be almost fatal in its effect 
upon his men. 

“ The schooner Defence has a large sup- 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


77 


ply,” said Marion, to his commander, as he 
wiped the black powder stains from his 
face. 

“ But she is nowhere in sight,” said Moul- 
trie, sweeping the harbor with his glass. 

Tom stepped forward, his hand at the 
salute. 

“ Well,” demanded the colonel. 

“ I saw the Defence chased into Stone Gap 
Creek awhile ago,” stated the lad eagerly. 
“ She is safe, though, for see,” and he pointed 
shoreward, “ there are her topmasts above the 
trees.” 

“ Good,” exclaimed Marion, his face light- 
ing up. 

“ But how can we reach her? The enemy’s 
vessels will not allow her to come out,” said 
the colonel. 

“ We can go to her,” ventured Tom, hesi- 
tatingly, for it seemed presumptuous for him 
to offer a suggestion to his commander. “ The 
Tartar is lying under the guns of the fort. 
We could reach the Defence in her. The 


78 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

British could not follow us up the creek ; they 
draw too much water.’ 7 

The ammunition that remained on board 
the Tartar, save a few rounds, Tom’s father 
gladly gave up to Colonel Moultrie, and a 
few guns resumed service from the fort, but 
firing slowly. Under mainsail and jib the 
gallant little sloop then stood out, in the 
teeth of the British, heading for the creek 
where the Defence was lying. Major Marion, 
Tom Deering and Cole stood upon her deck, 
watching a brig-of-war which had just started 
to head them off. 

“ She’s a fast sailer,” said Mr. Deering, a 
shade passing over his face, after he had 
watched the quality of their pursuer for a few 
moments. 

“ Do you think she can overhaul us ? ” 
asked Major Marion. 

“ There is no question about it,” returned 
the planter, “ if she is given time enough. 
But the distance to the creek is short; we 
may reach there. Then, with the help of the 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 79 

Defence, we can fight her off on the return 
run.” 

The Tartar had arrived within hailing 
distance of the mouth of the creek, when the 
brig suddenly discharged a lucky shot from a 
long bow gun that splintered the sloop’s mast 
and left her lying a helpless hulk upon the 
waters. 

“ It’s all over,” said Marion, quietly. 

“ The boat remains,” said Mr. Deering. 
“ Quick. You have still time to gain the 
Defence.” 

“ And you, father ? ” said Tom. 

“ I remain with the sloop,” answered the 
planter. 

“ But you will be taken prisoner ! ” 

“ I will not leave my crew,” said his father, 
firmly. “ There is not room for us all in the 
single yawl.” 

“ Then I will remain, also,” said Tom. 

“ You will join Major Marion in the boat,” 
commanded the planter, evenly. “ Caro- 
lina has need of all her youth. It would be 


8o FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


a needless sacrifice for you to throw yourself 
into the hands of her enemies.” 

Despite the boy’s protests, his father re- 
mained firm ; so with a heavy heart Tom 
climbed into the boat with Marion. Cole 
would have remained behind with his mas- 
ter ; but the planter, who recognized the 
great attachment of the giant black to his 
son, and saw how valuable he would be 
during these dangerous times, promptly or- 
dered him, also, into the yawl. 

They were just pulling into Stone Gap 
when a small boat with an armed crew left 
the British brig and pulled for the wrecked 
Tartar. So it happened that Roger Deering 
was one of the first prisoners of war taken in 
Carolina. 

Apparently the British skipper did not 
realize the significance of the sloop’s errand ; 
for after taking her crew from her she set fire 
to the hull and sailed back to rejoin the other 
vessels in the line of battle. 

An hour later the Defence crept out of 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 81 


Stone Gap Creek and headed for Fort Moul- 
trie. She was a swift sailer, and the old 
salt who commanded her knew how to make 
her do her best. So, in spite of pursuit and 
flying shot, she anchored under the guns of 
the fort and quickly transferred her powder. 
The British, during the protracted lull in the 
fort’s fire, had drawn closer ; but now, under 
the brisk and accurate cannonade they with- 
drew again to their first position. The fight 
then continued, hotter than ever ; shortly 
afterward the fort received another supply 
of powder from the city, which did much to 
encourage the defenders. 

The cheers, however, that greeted the ar- 
rival of the ammunition had scarcely died 
away when a distant roar of voices raised in 
exultation came from the British fleet. 

“ Look ; the flag,” cried some one. 

A solid shot from one of the flag-ship’s 
heavy guns had carried away the flag and it 
fell, fluttering like a wounded bird, outside 
the walls of the fort. In an instant Tom 


82 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


Deering, who was once more helping to serve 
the gun, threw his rammer to Cole and leaped 
upon the wall. A storm of canister swept 
about him and a hundred voices shouted for 
him to return ; but, without hesitation he 
leaped to the sandy beach below, between the 
ramparts and the enemy, seized the fallen 
colors, stuffed them into his bosom and then 
with the help of the mighty, outstretched arm 
of Cole, scrambled back inside. 

Again the flag was run up to the top of the 
staff, by means of fresh halyards ; the sight 
of it seemed to give the colonists renewed 
courage, for they turned to the conflict with 
a resolution that was unconquerable. The 
British ships were fast becoming mere 
wrecks, so seeing that a continuation of 
the combat would be mere folly, the 
signal flags were flown at the masthead of 
Commodore Parker’s vessel to cease firing. 
Ten minutes afterward a fleet of ships, with 
sails hanging from the rigging in shot-rent 
rags, and with hulls battered, leaking and 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 83 

torn with canister, ran out of Charleston 
harbor in disorder. 

“ They carry your father with them, a pris- 
oner, said Major Marion, to Tom Deering, as 
they leaned, watching, upon a hot gun. 

“ But they shall not keep him,” cried the 
lad, “ to die in their prison hulks ! He shall 
be free ! I am only a boy ; but the whole 
British navy shall not keep me from him. 
It may be a month, a year, or even more, but 
he shall be free in spite of all the fleets and 
armies they can send ! ” 


CHAPTER IV 


HOW TWO MEN BUKIED A CHEST OF GOLD 

The battle of Fort Moultrie was of immense 
importance to all the confederated states. It 
happened before the Declaration of Independ- 
ence was passed at Philadelphia. Because 
of the slowness of travel in those days the 
news did not become known in the capital 
city and other points of the north for a month 
or more afterward ; but it served to strengthen 
the patriots in their cause, and that went for 
much in that dark hour of doubt. 

For three years the British made no further 
attempt to invade Carolina. 

During this time Tom Deering saw service 
against the Cherokees and Tories ; but the 
greater part of his time was devoted to try- 
ing to find his father. He and Cole used 
every means in their power to find where the 
planter had been taken ; more than once they 
84 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 85 

assumed the characters of loyalists, when they 
saw a British ship standing in near shore, and 
with a boat-load of fresh vegetables they 
would pull or sail out to her under pretence 
of desiring to sell the things to the officers. 
But all their questioning upon these and 
other occasions went for nothing ; no trace 
was to be had of his father. But Tom was 
not disheartened ; the finding of his father 
was to be his task, and he persisted in it 
day after day, week after week ; wherever 
there promised to be a shred of information, 
there he rode, sailed or walked. But not once 
in the entire three years did he gain a single 
clue. 

Then, suddenly, came the surprise of Gen- 
eral Howe at Savannah ; the Americans were 
dispersed and the city fell into the hands of 
the British. Ten thousand picked troops 
under Sir Henry Clinton sailed from New 
York upon Charleston, bringing a train of 
heavy artillery. Six weeks after the city was 
invested it fell, and four thousand men were 


86 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


taken prisoners ; the command of the British 
then was given to Lord Cornwallis, and at 
once the entire colony began to feel the gross 
abuse of power and wanton tyrannies with 
which that officer soiled his name. 

Tom Deering, between his marches in the 
Cherokee and Tory countries had found much 
time to attend to the plantation. Nothing 
had been heard of his father since the day 
the boat’s crew of the brig-of-war took him 
from the wrecked sloop, so the whole care of 
the extensive estate now fell upon the boy. 

Tom’s mother had died when he was but a 
child, and he had no brothers or sisters. 
The only relatives he knew of, in the wide 
world, other than Captain Deering were the 
Harwoods, and these, of course, he never saw, 
as they had not ventured into the neighbor- 
hood of Charleston since once taking arms 
against their neighbors. Tom was now a stal- 
wart, bronzed youth of about nineteen ; hard 
riding had developed him wonderfully in body 
and constant danger had given him that calm, 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 87 

steady, tried courage that is a soldier’s best 
gift. 

The Deering mansion was crowded with 
many objects of value in the way of plate, 
pictures and antique carvings, of which his 
father had been a tireless collector. Upon 
looking over the books of the plantation one 
day, Tom discovered that there was also about 
four thousand pounds in gold in the house, 
his father having drawn all his money out of 
the banks at the first sign of trouble between 
the colony and Great Britain. This was a 
very large sum and its possession troubled the 
boy not a little. The money was locked up 
in a heavy oaken chest in his father’s private 
room ; and when the news reached him that 
Sir Henry Clinton was in the outer roadstead, 
he set about finding a hiding-place for it, his 
judgment telling him that the city was in 
danger. 

He and Cole opened the chest one night ; 
the broad gold pieces, mostly Spanish, were 
tied up in stout bags. 


88 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


“ If the enemy storm and demolish Fort 
Moultrie,” said Tom, as he looked reflectively 
at the bags, “ they will be very keen after 
hard money to pay off their men and obtain 
fresh supplies. So they would not hesitate a 
moment in seizing upon this if they chanced 
upon it.” 

The hiding-place must be a secret known 
only to themselves ; the slaves upon the plan- 
tation could be trusted to the last one ; but if 
the dragoons of Tarleton suspected the pres- 
ence of treasure upon the place, they would 
terrorize the negroes by threats of torture and 
compel them to tell where it was hidden. 

Some distance from the house, in the mid- 
dle of an orchard, was an old well, the waters 
of which were used in dry weather to keep 
the young trees in good condition. As a 
small boy Tom had often lowered himself 
into its dark depths in a spirit of exploration ; 
and now, as he cast his mind about for a safe 
place to conceal the gold, the well occurred 
to him. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 89 

“ I have it, Cole,” exclaimed he, cheerfully. 
“ The old well in the orchard is the place ; 
about half way down, a large stone fell out a 
long time ago, and behind the bed where the 
stone lay we can dig out a hole large enough 
to contain all the money.” 

Cole nodded delightedly ; in his opinion it 
was just the thing. So out they went, at a 
side door at the upper end of the house to 
prepare the hiding-place. Cole carried a long 
rope, for Tom decided not to trust his weight 
to the well rope, which was old and very 
likely rotten ; they also had a masked 
lantern, a short iron bar and a small spade. 

“ We must be careful and not be seen,” said 
Tom, as they picked their way through the 
garden. “ The Tories are drawing in close, at 
the expectation of a British victory ; and if 
one of them saw us prowling about in the 
darkness he would suspect something at 
once.” 

They reached the well in a very few min- 
utes, and he at once set to work to descend. 


go FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

Cole formed a sling at one end of the rope 
and passed it about Tom’s body. The boy 
had the masked lantern fastened to his belt ; 
the spade and bar were lying upon the low 
curb of the well ; he was just about to swing 
himself down into the black hole when sud- 
denly there came a low, sullen shock as of 
distant thunder, followed by another and an- 
other. The eyes of the boy and the giant 
went instantly in the direction of the harbor ; 
a flare of light ran along the sky, and imme- 
diately vanished. 

“ The British ! ” said Tom. “ That was 
their big guns that spoke ; and they are firing 
rockets, too. They mean to attack the fort in 
the darkness. We are none too soon, Cole ; 
for there is no knowing what will happen 
now.” 

Cole’s strong arms lowered him slowly into 
the well, and he soon found the place he 
sought. A large and almost square stone had 
fallen out and behind where it had lain in the 
lining of the shaft the earth could be seen. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 91 

Tom carefully pried out some few other and 
smaller stones with the bar ; these he passed 
up to Cole, after which he set to work with 
the spade to dig an aperture sufficiently large 
to hold the sacks of gold. 

As he worked he could hear the steady 
growl of the distant guns ; above his head he 
could see but a small, round spot in the sky 
through the shaft of the well ; and every little 
while this small, round spot would be lit up 
by a sudden glare of rockets sent hissing into 
the heavens as signals to the captains of the 
attacking fleet. 

In about half an hour Tom’s task was com- 
pleted. Cole was signaled and hauled him 
out of the well. 

“ Now,” said Tom, “ let’s get the bags down. 
It will be daybreak, almost, when we finish 
with this matter ; and we want to be done 
with it before any of the hands are stirring.” 

When they reached Mr. Deering’s office, 
Tom was about to open the chest once more 
and take the bags out for transportation to the 


92 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

orchard. But a gesture from Cole stopped 
him. With an ease that made even Tom’s 
eyes open in wonder, and the lad was 
accustomed to Cole’s exhibitions of tremen- 
dous strength, the giant slave hoisted the chest 
upon his back, and motioned to his master 
to go before him and open the doors. It was 
a dead weight and sufficient to crush an 
ordinary man ; but Cole carried it down- 
stairs, through the wide hall, out into the 
garden, and thence to the orchard, where he 
lowered it to the ground with scarcely a 
labored breath. 

“ Cole,” said Tom Deering in astonishment, 
“ I believe you are a second cousin to an 
elephant ! You’re growing stronger every 
day ! ” 

The great slave grinned ; he took a childish 
pleasure in his enormous power, and it made 
him happy when notice was taken of it by 
Tom, or his father. The sacks were now 
taken out of the chest, and once more the 
lad was swung down into the well, carrying 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 93 

several of them in his arms. Quite a number 
of trips were necessary before the gold was 
all stored in the hollow behind the stones. 

“ Now,” said Tom, “ we must block up the 
opening. It will not do to allow it to remain 
as it is.” 

Some lime was procured from a barrel in 
the negro quarters, slacked and quickly 
mixed with sand and water. 

“ It’s not very good mortar,” remarked 
Tom, “ but it will have to answer, as it’s the 
best we can do.” 

The stones that had been removed were 
replaced in the side of the well, and another 
was procured to replace the one that had 
fallen out ; then all were cemented firmly in 
place, and all trace of the work destroyed. 
After they had finished, Tom breathed a sigh 
of relief. 

“ Good,” said he. “ It will take a sharp 
eye to discover that, I fancy. It is secure 
there until the times grow settled and father 
is released on parole or exchanged.” 


94 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

They had reached the side door, at the 
upper end of the house, carrying the chest 
between them, and were just about to go in, 
when Tom suddenly laid his hand warningly 
upon the big slave’s shoulder. 

“ Don’t move,” whispered he. “ Listen ! ” 

They stood as silent as graven images. 
The soft “ pit-pat ” of cautious footsteps 
was approaching, down a narrow path be- 
tween two high screens of hedge. The 
shadows by the doorway lay deep and black, 
but the path leading to it was flooded by 
moonlight. A night bird flew by, overhead, 
crying harshly and sharply in the stillness. 
The footfalls had now ceased, but there 
immediately followed a rustling in the hedge. 
The next moment the stiff growth parted and 
a face was thrust through — a pale, sly looking 
face with narrow eyes and a crafty expression. 
It was that of Mark Harwood ! 

The shadow was too deep about the door- 
way for the prowling Tory to see our friends, 
however ; he remained glancing here and there 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 95 

for a moment, then his head was withdrawn 
and his soft footfalls once more fell upon the 
listener’s ears. 

For a moment Tom had been startled ; he 
had thought that the Tory had been watching 
their labors, and that the whereabouts of the 
treasure was known. But a moment’s reflec- 
tion convinced him that this could not be so. 
Mark had approached the house from an en- 
tirely different direction, and was apparently 
endeavoring to find out if any one was astir. 

Assured that the hiding-place of his 
father’s money was not known to Mark, Tom 
at once conceived the notion of playing the 
Tory a trick. 

“ Cole,” he whispered, “ did you hear any 
other footsteps than his ? ” 

Cole shook his head. 

“ He must be alone,” said Tom. “ Perhaps 
he has come out ahead of his father’s band of 
thieving loyalists to look the ground over. 
They always did envy my father his pros- 
perity, Cole, and now they think they’ll have 


96 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

a chance to rob him, seeing that the British 
are near at hand.” 

While he spoke, Tom was thinking of 
another matter ; suddenly he clapped the 
negro on the back and laughed low and glee- 
fully. 

“ I have a plan,” said he, eagerly. “ We’ll 
fool them ; we’ll let them think they have the 
matter in their own hands. Now, do just 
what I tell you, and don’t hesitate.” 

Mark had stolen off around a corner of 
the house, and his footsteps had died away. 
Tom unlocked the door at which they were 
standing, opened it wide and suddenly clapped 
it shut with a resounding slam. Cole started 
in surprise, but Tom reassured him. 

“ Take hold of the handle of the chest,” 
whispered the lad, “ and act as though it were 
very heavy. We’ll lug it to the maize field 
just below the quarters.” 

Cole took hold of the chest, and they bore 
it along through the garden, around the 
house, over a low wall and through the silent 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 97 

street of the negro quarters. As they went, 
Tom glanced over his shoulder now and then, 
while they passed through a deep shadow, and 
at last he was rewarded by seeing the skulk- 
ing figure of Mark Harwood, creeping along 
in the shadow of a fence, behind them. As 
Tom had expected, the loud closing of the 
door had attracted him ; and when he saw 
the young patriot and his servant carrying a 
chest in a secretive fashion, and in the dark 
of the very early morning, he eagerly followed 
them. 

When Tom and Cole reached the maize 
field they put the chest down at a fence cor- 
ner. The crown of Mark Harwood's wide 
wool hat was plainly visible to Tom's watch- 
ful eyes, sticking above a bush behind which 
he was crouching. Tom was careful not to 
let the spying Tory know that he was ob- 
served ; and in a voice that he knew would 
reach the listener, he said to Cole : 

“ This will be a good place to bury it. It 
won't do to let all this gold lie around now 


98 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

when there is danger of the enemy coming. 
We’ll bury it here and make a note of the 
spot ; when everything is quiet again, and 
the Tories gone, we can dig it up once more.” 

Cole greeted these words with a long stare 
of surprise ; Tom was afraid that he did not 
understand his words ; but, no, it was the 
situation that puzzled Cole. But he had 
heard the skulking footsteps behind them as 
they had lugged the empty chest down to the 
maize field, and putting one thing and an- 
other together, the whole thing suddenly 
dawned upon him ; and he burst into a ring- 
ing laugh that split the silence like a knife. 

Tom grasped his arm in pretended alarm, 
and covered his mouth with his hand. 

“ Hush ! ” warned he, for the benefit of the 
crouching Tory. “ Somebody may hear you. 
And it won’t do to have what we are about 
to do, overseen. Keep quiet, now, and go to 
work.” 

Cole took up the spade which they had 
brought with them, and set to work in the 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 99 

fence corner, turning up the ground. Tom 
found a mattock which a careless hand had 
left in the field overnight, and proceeded to 
lend vigorous aid. The Tory crouched be- 
hind the bush, eagerly watching ; Cole, as 
he worked, was so convulsed that his great 
shoulders shook, and his eyes gleamed with 
enjoyment in the moonlight. 

At length they had the hole sufficiently 
large ; with much burlesque effort they 
dragged the chest into it, and proceeded to 
throw back and stamp down the earth. Tom 
wiped his brow after the job was finished, and 
Cole followed suit. 

“ There we are,” said the boy. “ Nobody 
will ever know that is there. The maize will 
soon grow over the spot, and it will never be 
noticed.” 

They took up spade and mattock, and 
silently set off for the house ; behind them 
still crouched Mark Harwood, an expression 
of malignant triumph upon his cold, sly face. 

“It’s safe, is it, Tom Deering?” he mut- 


LofC. 


ioo FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


tered, below his breath. “ That’s all you 
know about it. Sir Henry Clinton will soon 
be master of all about here, and father and I 
will be masters of the Deering plantation. 
Then we shall see if your chest of gold is 
safe, or no.” And with a low laugh, he shook 
his fist after the two retreating forms ; then 
he turned and cut swiftly across the fields, for 
day was coming fast and it would not do for 
him to be observed. 


CHAPTER V 


HOW TOM JOINED MARION’S BRIGADE 

Within a week after Tom had hidden his 
father’s four thousand pounds in the old well 
Charleston had capitulated, and the army of 
General Lincoln was in the hands of the 
British. The dragoons of Lieutenant-Colonel 
Tarleton overran the whole district between 
the city and the Cooper River ; the patriot 
bands were broken up and scattered in every 
direction. 

In spite of the peril Tom could scarcely 
bring himself to leave the city and its neigh- 
borhood. It seemed like deserting his task, 
like seeking safety for himself and leaving 
his father to his fate. “ He may be on board 
one of those war-ships, Cole,” said he to the 
slave, as they sat in their saddles prepared to 
leave the plantation. “ It cuts me to the 
heart to go ; but to remain means certain 


IOI 


102 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


capture, and as a prisoner I could, of course, 
do nothing. I'll go/’ and he held up his 
clinched hand as though making a vow, “ but 
I’ll return again. I’ll never rest content till 
my father breathes free air again.” 

For a time South Carolina seemed doomed ; 
defeat followed defeat so rapidly that the 
hopes of the colonists were paralyzed, their 
spirits subdued. Moultrie, who might have 
led them, was a prisoner of war ; Governor 
Rutledge had withdrawn to the North State 
to stir up the people, and win over recruits to 
the cause of liberty ; even Sumpter, Horry 
and like bold spirits had to fly for their lives. 

During the siege of Charleston, Francis 
Marion had lain with a broken leg in a little 
cabin far back in the swamps of the Santee 
district. Before the arrival of Clinton and 
his army, the little Huguenot had met with 
an accident which prevented his taking part 
in the defence of the city. Now, when Tarle- 
ton and his men, and the harsh troopers of 
Cornwallis, were scouring the country all 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 103 

about, he was still confined to his couch. He 
was too conspicuous a person, his military 
talents had been too well proven, for the 
enemy to have forgotten him. So his only 
safety was in hiding and watching and wait- 
ing for his hour to strike. 

It was just the luck of Tom Deering and 
Cole, after escaping from Charleston, to be 
pushing through a cane-brake on their way 
north one afternoon when dusk was about to 
creep out of the east. The section was well 
known to the boy and his servant, for they 
had ridden over it many times in pursuit of 
Tories during the period after the victory at 
Sullivan’s Island. Suddenly a series of shots 
rang out, followed by a woman’s scream ; with 
one accord our friends spurred forward, their 
powerful animals crashing through the growth 
in long, swift bounds. In a few moments they 
had gained a clearing, in the middle of which 
stood a small cabin. The figure of a man 
lay before the door and a sobbing woman bent 
over him. A riderless horse was cropping the 


104 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

grass near at hand and a British soldier, des- 
perately wounded, sat propped against a 
stump. Two other troopers and a huge, red- 
faced officer — of high rank, judging from his 
uniform — sat their horses at the edge of the 
clearing. The troopers were loading their 
pieces ; the officer was waving an empty hol- 
ster pistol and shouting madly ; two young 
men, hardly more than boys, were stationed 
behind trees, rapidly loading their long duck- 
ing guns, and facing the soldiers. 

It required but a glance for Tom Deering to 
realize the situation ; it was a patriot family 
attacked by a party of British. Instantly he 
called to Cole, and, without pausing, they 
rode at the dragoons. Each had a heavy 
cavalry sabre and a pair of large holster pis- 
tols ; the sabres were drawn as they charged ; 
their heavy, curved blades rose in the air, 
flashing in the waning light of day. They 
were upon the three Englishmen before the 
latter realized their presence ; Cole’s great bay 
horse, in full career, struck against the lighter 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE ioj 

animal of one of the troopers and sent horse 
and man to the ground in a struggling heap. 
At the same instant one of the youths behind 
the trees near the cabin, having finished re- 
loading his piece, fired ; the other dragoon 
fell from his horse with a shattered shoulder. 
This left but the burly, red-faced officer still 
in the saddle, and without a moment’s hesita- 
tion Tom dashed at him, his sabre swinging 
for a cut. 

The officer saw his danger ; with a sudden 
jerk of his arm he threw the heavy pistol at 
the boy’s head. But Tom avoided the flying 
weapon by swiftly leaning to one side. 

“ Surrender ! ” he commanded, his sabre 
flashing about the officer’s head. 

With a roar of anger like that of an infuri- 
ated bear the Englishman drew his sword 
from its scabbard, and the blades crossed with 
a sharp, angry ring. 

Take care, Tom Deering, take care ! Your 
boldness has led you into great danger ; you 
have proved a worthy pupil of Victor St. Mar, 


io6 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


late of King Louis’ army, but, as yet, you are 
not a match for Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton, 
at once a man of lion-like strength and fe- 
rocity and a master of the sabre. 

Yes, it was the terrible Tarleton, himself ; 
he had been making a short cut through the 
swamp in order that he might rejoin a de- 
tachment of his dragoons, when they had 
come upon this lonely cabin. 

“ Surrender, you jackanapes ! ” he roared, 
in a fury at Tom’s bold demand. “ I’ll teach 
you something that you will not forget in a 
hurry ! ” 

And with that he began a furious attack 
upon the boy, aiming sweeping cuts at his 
head and downward slashes at his sword-arm 
with marvelous rapidity ; but Tom, managing 
his chestnut mount with his left hand, 
guarded himself carefully, allowing no open- 
ing in his defence. But in a few moments 
the superior skill and experience of Tarleton, 
together with his greater weight, began to tell ; 
step by step, the boy was driven back, dazzled 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 107 

by the flashing sabre darting so swiftly here 
and there before his eyes. A fierce grin of 
triumph came into the Englishman’s face ; 
victory was in his hands ; this presumptuous 
youth who had dared to face him was about 
to learn a lesson which he would never forget. 

But Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton had not 
counted upon Cole. In the very moment of 
his triumph, when his heavy blade was lifted 
for a last and finishing stroke, a pair of huge, 
black arms, as strong as bands of steel, were 
thrown about him ; his sabre was dashed to 
the ground and he, burly man though he 
was, found himself plucked from his saddle 
and gazing up into the grinning, ebony face 
of the giant slave. 

Tom looked down, panting from his exer- 
tions, but smiling at the British officer’s dis- 
comfiture. 

“ Hold him fast, Cole,” said he, as the of- 
ficer began a desperate struggle to break away 
from the bear-like hug which held him. “ No 
use in struggling, colonel ” — the boy perceived 


io8 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


the captive’s rank by a glance at his uniform 
coat. “ You are in the hands of the strongest 
man in South Carolina.” 

“ You black dog,” fumed Tarleton, making 
a prolonged and desperate struggle to break 
free, “ let go, or I’ll be the death of you.” 

Cole grinned widely ; he coolly pinned the 
fuming colonel to the ground by the simple 
process of kneeling upon his chest ; his 
splendid white teeth flashed his entire enjoy- 
ment of the whole affair. 

“ Take care,” said Tom, a note of sternness 
now in his voice, “ that this affair, here at the 
cabin, does not end in your own death. Let 
us see what damage you have done.” 

The two boys who had been stationed be- 
hind the trees defending their home when 
Tom and Cole came up, had approached and 
were looking with some astonishment at the 
herculean black and at the wondrous ease 
with which he mastered the powerful king’s 
officer. 

“ Has any one been hurt ? ” asked Tom. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 109 

“ Father has been wounded slightly,” said 
one of the youths. “ But it’s not much, for 
he’s on his feet again, as you can see.” 

The man who had lain upon the ground at 
the cabin door was limping painfully, with 
the aid of the woman, to a spring near at 
hand. The trooper whom Cole had unhorsed 
was attending to the wants of his wounded 
comrades. 

“ They must have surprised you,” said Tom. 
“ How comes it that soldiers attack the homes 
of citizens ? ” 

“ British soldiers,” said one of the young 
men, bitterly, “ do anything these times. 
They kill, burn and destroy ; it does not 
matter much to them who their victims are 
so long as they refuse to take up arms for 
King George.” 

“ They are hanging and burning the homes 
of all who will not help them,” spoke the 
other youth. “ If a man wants to save his 
life or his property he must turn traitor to 
his friends — he must betray his neighbor and 


no FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


take up arms for a false old madman who 
calls himself king ! ” 

“ I’ll see you swinging at a tree limb for 
those words, you traitorous rebel ! ” cried 
Tarleton, whose arms were now bound behind 
him by his belt, and who, under guard of the 
watchful Cole, had stood listening to the 
young man’s words. 

“ Take care, you red-coated scoundrel ! ” ex- 
claimed the other, wheeling upon him 
fiercely ; “ take care that you don’t swing 
from yonder cottonwood yourself before the 
hour is up. In these times each man in the 
swamp-lands of Carolina is a law unto him- 
self. You have attacked us without cause, 
and in strict justice we should treat you as 
you would have treated us had you taken us 
prisoners.” 

“ You don’t mean to say,” cried Tom in 
horror, “ that regular troops are hanging 
prisoners ! I thought that only the Tories 
would be guilty of such deadly and cowardly 
work.” 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 1 1 1 


“ Colonel Tarleton, here,” and the young 
man pointed one accusing finger at the 
British officer, “ has given orders to spare no 
one whom they suspect. And as they sus- 
pect all who will not help them, the cane- 
brakes are full of fugitives, the clearings show 
nothing but burned homes.” 

“ Colonel Tarleton ! ” exclaimed Tom, look- 
ing in surprise at the burly form before him, 
and into the red, strongly-marked face. “ Is 
this Colonel Tarleton ? ” 

The Englishman laughed harshly. “ Ah, 
I see you have heard of me,” said he, sneer- 
ingly. “ There are not many in the Santee 
district that have not ; and there will be many 
more, I promise you, before this uprising is 
done with. There is only one way to deal 
with rebels, and that is to crush them utterly 
— to have no mercy.” 

“ And from what I have just heard, and 
just seen, too, for that matter, you are acting 
upon your theory,” said Tom Deering, look- 
ing Colonel Tarleton angrily in the eye. 


112 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


“ You are a soldier — serving under the flag of 
what should be an enlightened nation ; and 
do you not know that there is no excuse for 
such measures — that warfare does not sanction 
them? ” 

“ I plan my own actions and in my own 
way,” returned Tarleton. “ And when I want 
advice upon the subject, my forward young 
friend, depend upon it, I shall not come to 
you.” 

The two young men, as Tom now found, 
were Nat and David Collins ; they and their 
father were wood-cutters in the swamps. 
Tom noticed something furtive in their 
glances, from time to time, toward the cabin, 
which stood some little distance away from 
the scene of the fight. Several times he had 
made as though to approach it, but they had 
always prevented this by calling his attention 
elsewhere. But now they were engaged in 
attending to their father, who had a painful 
wound in the calf of the leg, and Tom 
advanced to the cabin door. At another 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 113 

time he would not have dreamed of prying 
into their affairs, but those were dangerous 
days, and a patriot’s safety rested solely upon 
his alertness — upon his being constantly upon 
the outlook for peril. The people seemed to 
be friends of Congress, but Tom had grown so 
accustomed to assuring himself of everything 
that he did not trust them until he had dis- 
covered that which they seemed so anxious 
to hide. 

The interior of the cabin was dark to one 
just coming into it ; so Tom stood in the door- 
way, his sabre still in his hand, peering about, 
and waiting for his eyes to become accustomed 
to the darkness. Suddenly he was startled by 
a quiet voice saying : 

“ Stand as you are. A movement will be 
dangerous, my friend, and a sound equally 
so.” 

Tom was surprised ; for the moment he 
could see nothing ; then he began to make 
out, but dimly, a couch of furs and pine 
boughs in a corner ; a man lay upon this — a 


U4 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

man who had lifted himself up upon one 
elbow and held a pistol in his hand. The 
gray of twilight had deepened in the swamp 
and the dim light that came through the 
open doorway was not sufficient to enable the 
man upon the couch to see Tom’s face clearly ; 
then, too, the latter was standing with his 
back to the light. 

“ You have succeeded in ferreting me out, 
I see,” said the man upon the couch. “ But 
you have not taken me yet, remember that.” 

“ Who are you ? ” demanded Tom, his hand 
clutching, instinctively, the tighter upon the 
hilt of his sabre. 

“ Don’t pretend ignorance,” said the man’ 
“ You have set a price upon my head — or at 
least your masters have — the butcher Tarleton 
and Sir Henry Clinton.” 

At this Tom pressed forward a step ; but 
the voice rang warningly through the room, 
causing him to halt instantly. 

“As you are!” said the man, sharply. 
“ It is not wise to approach a cornered man.” 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 115 

“ Whoever you are,” said Tom, eagerly, “ if 
you are an enemy of the British you are a 
friend of mine.” 

There came an exclamation from the man 
upon the couch. 

“ Have I made a mistake,” said he. “ Surely 
I heard the sounds of fighting outside. If you 
are one of us that means that ” 

“ The British have been beaten,” said Tom, 
finishing the sentence for him. “ There were 
only four of them ; two troopers have been 
wounded, another and Colonel Tarleton are 
prisoners.” 

“ Tarleton ! ” The man upon the couch, in 
his excitement attempted to spring out upon 
the floor, but sank back with a groan. “ I 
had forgotten ; you see my leg is broken.” 

Just then Nat Collins, the elder of the two 
brothers, entered ; he seemed angry at Tom 
for having entered the cabin, and there was 
an anxious look about him, as he stood gazing 
from one to the other, not knowing just how 
to act. 


1 16 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


“ Light a candle, Nat,” said the man upon 
the couch. “ And why,” he proceeded, “ did 
you not tell me that friends had arrived. ” 

“ They did not come until the fight had 
started,” said Nat, lighting a candle in a brass 
sconce from a dim fire that burned on the 
hearth. The flickering light fell upon Tom’s 
face as the young wood-cutter arose, and the 
man on the couch uttered an exclamation of 
surprise. 

“ Tom Deering ! ” cried he. 

Tom gave him one quick look and then 
springing forward, he seized his hand. 

“ Major Marion,” he burst out joyfully. 
“ Who would ever have thought of seeing 
you here.” 

“ I wouldn’t, myself, some little time ago,” 
said the soldier. “ How is it with you, my 
lad?” 

Tom had been of great service to Major 
Marion in his expeditions against the Tories 
after the defeat of Sir Peter Parker’s fleet at 
Sullivan’s Island ; the two had gradually 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 117 

come to admire and trust one another 
greatly. 

“ I have my good horse,” answered the boy, 
“ and I have a brace of pistols and a sabre ; 
and, yes, there’s Cole, too ; but that’s all ; the 
British have all the rest,” sadly — “ house, 
slaves, plantation and all.” 

“ So, I have been told, is the case with all 
the men in Charleston who had the courage 
to brave the king,” said Marion. “ But I can 
say nothing from my own observation, Tom, 
for I broke my leg about the time Clinton 
arrived in the roadstead ; and since the fort 
fell I’ve been hiding in the cane-brakes like a 
fox ; yes, and listening to the hounds in full 
cry all around me. But don’t despair, my 
boy ; Carolina is not yet beaten ; she has only 
begun to fight.” 

As they talked there in the dimly-lighted 
room, the elder Collins limped in. Marion’s 
quick eye at once noticed that he had been 
wounded. 

“ You’ve been hit,” said he, anxiously. 


n8 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


“ Nothing to speak of, major/’ said the 
man. “ It bled pretty freely and it pains a 
great deal, but it won’t last long.” 

Here Mrs. Collins followed her husband 
into the room. “ What are you going to do 
with that British officer ? ” inquired she. 
“ He’s going on something dreadful out 
there.” 

“ Have him brought in,” said Marion to 
Tom. “ I want to see this ruthless king’s 
officer before we let him go.” 

“ Let him go ! ” ejaculated the Collinses in 
a breath. “ You are not going to do that.” 

“We are hardly in a position to take pris- 
oners of war,” said Major Marion with a 
smile. “We cannot resort to his own meas- 
ures and use the rope, either. But bring 
him in.” 

In a few moments Lieutenant-Colonel Tarle- 
ton stood within the cabin, and his wounded 
troopers were lying groaning upon the floor 
near by. He looked with lowering brow upon 
Major Marion, his harsh, brutal face made all 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 119 

the more ruffianly by the rage which dis- 
torted it. Marion lay stretched upon his 
couch of furs and pine boughs, his deep-set, 
brilliant black eyes seeming to search into 
the very soul of his enemy. Tarleton bore 
the look for a time, then burst out in a 
voice thick with the rage that consumed 
him. 

“ So you are that skulking fox, Marion, 
for whom we have been looking ! ” 

“ And you/’ returned the little man, “ are 
that hound, Tarleton, whom I have been try- 
ing to avoid. ” 

“ Take care,” burst out Tarleton, who like 
a great many others of his sort, did not like 
to be paid in his own coin. 

“ Thank you ; I shall endeavor to,” re- 
turned Marion, coolly. “ It was my desire to 
see you ; for, Colonel Tarleton, I think the 
day is coming when we shall meet quite often 
in the persons of our followers ; and it is as 
well for me to know you by sight.” 

“ I’ll teach you all to know me,” swore the 


120 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


fiery Tarleton. “ I’ll make the Carolinas 
dread my very name.” 

“ If that is your ambition, it is realized 
already. The mothers along the Santee 
frighten their children into quiet by telling 
them that the bloody Tarleton is coming. 
The reputation, my dear colonel, is not a very 
noble one ; but such as it is you have realized 
it ; and as you seem to like it I wish you great 
enjoyment of it.” 

The quiet, biting words of Marion made 
the burly colonel writhe ; he answered in his 
loud, harsh fashion, but it was like matching 
a bludgeon against a rapier, and he got all 
the worst of the contest of tongues. And 
while they talked Tom Deering and Cole, 
assisted by the two Collins boys, were not 
idle. The mounts of the three dragoons were 
led up ; a rude sling was quickly constructed 
and placed between two of them for Marion. 
After the attacks of Tarleton, the little parti- 
san would not be safe in this place when the 
defeated troopers and their colonel reached 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 121 


their own camp. It was Marion himself who 
had told Tom what to do, for none knew the 
danger better than he. 

When all was ready Cole took the slight 
form of the major in his mighty arms and 
bore him out to where the sling was awaiting 
him. There were horses enough to mount 
all, Mrs. Collins included. They were 
brought up to the door ; Mr. Collins and his 
wife were assisted to their saddles, and then 
the three youths and Cole closed and fastened 
the cabin securely, with Tarleton and his men 
still inside. The language of the British of- 
ficer startled Tom ; but Marion had dealt 
with such people before. 

“ I bid you good-night, Colonel Tarleton, n 
he called as he rested his injured leg in the 
easy depths of the sling. “ And you may 
save your compliments ; for when I extend 
you mine it will be on a sword blade or the 
barrel of a rifle. Now then,” turning to Tom, 
“ if we are ready, forward.” 

And away they went, along the narrow 


122 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


paths of the swamp, amidst the darkness of 
the southern night, under the cottonwoods 
and palmettos ; and this little party was the 
nucleus of Marion’s Brigade, that band of pa- 
triots which was a constant thorn in the side 
of Lord Rawdon ; that shadowy, evasive, 
swift striking brigade whose glory shall live 
while there is a true heart that remembers. 

The toil of the march and the dangers were 
as nothing to Tom Deering ; but his spirit was 
heavy within him, and as they penetrated 
further and further into the interior it grew 
heavier still. For each step was taking him 
further away from his father — the good, kind 
father whom, sleeping or waking, he never 
forgot, and who was now lying with heavy 
irons upon his limbs in some noisome prison 
pen. 


CHAPTER VI 


HOW FRANCIS MARION HEARD GOOD NEWS FROM 
WILLIAMSBURG 

For weeks the little band pressed on 
through swamps and over stony roads. The 
Baron De Kalb, with a force of Continentals 
from Virginia, was marching south, and it 
was upon falling in with this army that 
Marion based his hope of safety. For it had 
not been long before the alarm was out ; the 
swift, merciless dragoons of Tarleton and the 
skulking loyalists were after them night and 
day. How they escaped, they themselves 
could not afterward remember ; the bay of 
dogs, upon their trail at night, would often 
startle them into renewed flight ; the warn- 
ing of a friend, or perhaps a slave, would 
cause them frequently to change their course 
by day. 

Marion’s injured limb grew slowly better ; 

123 


124 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

at last he was able to dispense with the sling 
and ride in the usual fashion. After this 
they made much better progress and pushed 
northward rapidly. Mrs. Collins was left at a 
small town with some relatives ; the band was 
augmented from time to time during this 
flight until at last it numbered some twenty 
hardened, bronzed men and boys, well 
mounted, but poorly armed and clothed. 

Tom and Cole were scouting one afternoon ; 
it was dark when they rejoined their com- 
rades, who had encamped on the banks of a 
small stream. Marion, almost entirely well 
now, sat by the camp-fire cleaning his pistols 
when Tom threw himself from his tired horse 
and approached him. 

“ What news on the scout, lad ? ” asked the 
commander. 

“ A change has been made in the force 
which we are anxious to meet/’ replied the 
boy. “ General Gates has superseded De 
Kalb and is pushing south by forced marches. 
It is his intention, I hear, to carry the war to 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 125 

the enemy instead of waiting for him to 
attack.” 

Marion received the intelligence with 
moody brow. 

“ Gates,” said he, slowly. “ I’ve heard of 
him. A hot-blooded, impetuous officer. 
Brave, but rash ; and not at all the man for 
the work.” 

“ You, too, think he should avoid a meet- 
ing until compelled to fight, do you, major? ” 

“ He should avoid a meeting until he 
knows his ground and is acquainted with 
the force before him. There is nothing to be 
gained by venturesome enterprises such as, I 
dare say, General Gates will attempt. It will 
but weaken him and unnerve his rank and file. 
De Kalb would have been a better man ; he is 
accustomed to the warfare of petty European 
principalities, which is conducted with caution 
and no waste of men or supplies. I am sorry 
to hear this ; the appointment of Gates was a 
mistake.” 

The fears for the reckless courage of Gates 


126 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


expressed by Marion were only too well 
founded. That hot-tempered officer came 
plunging through North Carolina, full-tilt, 
with the ambition, seemingly, like Csesar to 
write a dispatch announcing in the same 
breath the sight of and the conquest of the 
enemy. 

The army commanded by General Gates, 
though small, was the best-equipped that the 
south had yet seen ; they were well-clad in 
smart uniforms ; their musket-barrels shone 
in the sun ; their camp had all the neatness 
of a camp of trained soldiery ; their artillery 
was heavy and capable of excellent service. 
Despite his rapid marches, Gates had the 
knack of keeping his men in good condition, 
and on the evening when Marion, with Tom 
Deering and Cole riding upon either side of 
him, and his nondescript band of woodsmen 
and fugitive militia at his heels, rode into it, the 
Continental camp was at its neatest and trim- 
mest. The coonskin caps and wretched rags 
of the newcomers excited the jeers of the 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 127 

smart regular troops as their owners went 
down the road, between the line of camp-fires, 
toward the general’s tent. 

“ If this is the sort of reinforcement South 
Carolina has to offer us,” cried a big sergeant 
of Virginia foot, “ we’ll have to do their share 
of the fighting, too.” 

Tom Deering could not stand the laugh of 
contempt that greeted this, but reined up 
beside a company of the jeering infantry and 
allowed his comrades to trot by behind the 
unruffled Marion. 

“ If you men of Virginia go as far as we of 
Carolina for the cause,” said he, “ you’ll go to 
the mouth of the British cannon, and a little 
further.” 

“ Well crowed, my bantam-cock,” laughed 
the big sergeant. “ And how long have you 
been soldiering, may I ask?” 

Tom’s eyes flashed as he faced the circle 
of laughing infantrymen who had gathered 
about him at the prospect of sport; their 
laughter angered him, for he felt that it was 


128 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


uncalled-for and unjust. So he swept the big 
sergeant scornfully with his eye. 

“ I was soldiering,” said he, “ before you 
had pulled on that nice, clean uniform for 
the first time. I had served a gun at Fort 
Moultrie and been under fire in a score of 
other places, sergeant, while you were still 
driving bullocks in the Virginia hay-fields.” 

It was a fact well known to his comrades 
that the sergeant had, up to this time, never 
smelled gun-powder in actual battle ; and 
when Tom finished speaking a roar of laugh- 
ter went, directed at the big man ; and he 
reddened angrily, and bit at his huge 
mustache. 

“ Never judge a dog by the color of his 
fur,” said Tom, delighted to have turned the 
laugh upon the other. “ And never judge a 
man by the coat upon his back. When you, 
sergeant, have raced through an enemy’s 
country — a country, too, full of sw T amps, 
thickets and almost impassable roads, for 
months* with bloodhounds upon your track 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 129 

by night and Tories with ropes ready in their 
hands searching for you by day, you will not 
look so trim and natty as you do now, and 
you will not be so ready to laugh.” 

The troops of General Gates were a rough, 
good humored lot ; it required but a moment 
for them to catch the truth of the boy’s re- 
marks ; and with one accord, the sergeant 
included, they burst into a cheer for the 
sincerity and heartiness of which there could 
be no doubt. Tom’s eyes gleamed with satis- 
faction as he waved his cap in response, 
wheeled his horse and dashed after his com- 
rades. 

“ There is good stuff in them, for all their 
readiness to jeer,” he muttered to himself. 
“And they are big, strong, willing looking 
fellows, too ; and should render an excellent 
account of themselves.” 

Marion’s men were halted in the road not 
far from the headquarters of General Gates. 
The latter and Marion were standing at the 
flap of the tent conversing earnestly. Beside 


130 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

the stalwart general of the Continentals Marion 
looked insignificant ; and Gates, like his men, 
seemed to regard the partisan’s command as 
a rabble, the like of which clings to the skirts 
of every army. His face wore an amused 
smile, not unmixed with contempt. It is a 
fact that this officer was a vain man, of osten- 
tatious habit and one whose judgment was 
very apt to be affected by parade and the 
external show of things. 

“ I am very thankful to you, Major Marion, 
for coming to put your company at my 
service,” said General Gates, patronizingly. 
“ But, the fact is, I have no very great opinion 
of cavalry, and think I have but little need 
of it.” 

Marion flushed with resentment at this ; 
but controlled himself. 

“This is a very thinly settled country, 
general,” returned he. “ I should think 
that an active troop of horse would be very 
useful both in securing intelligence and in 
procuring supplies.” 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 131 

Gates seemed somewhat impressed by this, 
and after some further conversation, invited 
Marion into his tent. The troop of swamp 
riders dismounted and picketed their horses 
outside the camp, preparing to settle for the 
night. The very rags and poverty of this 
little band which was afterward to become 
so famous were but proofs of their integrity, 
could Gates but have seen it in that light. It 
was in defiance of the temptations and the 
power of the British that these men had 
taken the field, and had the leader of the 
Continentals been a wise man, he would have 
seen, even through their rags and destitution, 
the steady glow of patriotism ; which enkindled 
throughout the state by this little, dark, un- 
assuming officer, and Sumpter, and a few 
others of equal daring, was to blaze out, at 
last, in that perfect brightness which was to 
cause the invader to slink away, confounded. 

That night and the two following Marion 
and his men spent in the camp of General 
Gates. In spite of the bad impression which 


132 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

his tattered command had made upon the 
general, Marion's undoubted knowledge of the 
surrounding country was noted and made use 
of. But Tom could not bear the camp or its 
people and spent but little time there ; for he 
and Cole were constantly scouting over the 
flats and through the woods, at his leader's 
orders, in the hope of catching a view of the 
foe. 

The town of Williamsburg was not a great 
many miles away, and upon the evening of 
the first day Tom and his faithful follower 
rode into the town to see what news there was 
to be had. The town was a hotbed of patriot- 
ism ; the very name of King George was 
execrated there, and the boy was sure to be 
welcomed and to receive what tidings of the 
British the townspeople possessed. As it hap- 
pened, a few weeks before this, a party of 
British and Tories had entered the place and 
plundered right and left ; a few who resisted, 
and some others whom the Tories pointed out 
as rebels, were shot; then the marauders 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 133 

rode off with the warning to Williamsburg to 
improve in her loyalty to king and parlia- 
ment or she would receive another visit. 

The citizens gathered in angry crowds. 
“ If,” said they, “ we are to be set upon when 
we have not struck a blow against the crown, 
what worse can happen to us if we take up 
arms and fight like men should against 
tyranny.” 

There was no answer to this argument, so 
the Williamsburgers proceeded to arm them- 
selves with whatever they could find in the 
way of weapons, and set about drilling upon 
the village green. It was in the midst of the 
drill that Tom and Cole found them that 
evening when they rode down the main 
street, and very proud the townsfolk seemed 
to be of it. 

“ Tell General Gates,” said the stout old 
burgess to Tom, after finding out where he 
was from, “ that the freemen of Williamsburg 
are preparing. Let the British make another 
of their ruffian raids upon the town, and it 


134 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

shall not be like the last. This time, instead 
of cautious words, they will be greeted by a 
sleet of lead.” 

“ Hurrah ! ” rang lustily from the ranks of 
the militia. “ That they will ! ” 

“ Let them show so much as their noses in 
the town limits again and we’ll send them 
back to Cornwallis as soundly beaten as ever 
a pack of prowling curs were yet.” 

The speaker was a brawny, sooty man, in a 
blacksmith’s apron ; he carried a great sledge 
over his shoulder instead of a musket, and 
seemed in every way capable of doing his 
part in carrying out the promise. His words 
were greeted by much laughter and cheers by 
his comrades, and under cover of this Tom 
was drawn aside by the stout burgess. 

“They are rare good lads, all of them,” 
spoke the burgess. “They will fight for 
their rights and their firesides to the last, but 
they have no one to lead them in whom they 
have confidence ; it is a great pity, but it 
is so.” 










FIGHTING KING GEORGE 135 

He shook his head despondently as he said 
this, and as his eyes traveled along the not 
very trim ranks of the volunteers, he shook 
his gray head sadly. 

“ Is there no man of experience among 
them ? ” asked Tom. 

“ Not one, not one,” answered the burgess, 
“ and it’s a great pity, for they are a fine body 
of men.” 

He shook his head once more and sighed 
regretfully. Then turning to Tom he con- 
tinued : 

“ I sent a messenger to Governor Rutledge 
asking him to select a leader for this com- 
pany.” 

“ What was his answer ? ” 

“ He said that there was but one man in the 
entire South whom he would name as an ideal 
leader of irregular troops.” 

“ And that man was ? ” 

“ One Francis Marion.” 

Tom started in surprise and then laughed 
with pleasure. 


136 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

“ Well,” said he to the stout old burgess, 
“ why do you not secure him ? ” 

“ He is not to be found. The governor has 
no idea if he be living or dead. Men die sud- 
denly in these times, you know.” 

“ But suppose,” said the boy, “ that I could 
tell you where to find him ? ” 

The old man grasped him eagerly by the arm. 
“ You are not jesting ? ” 

“ Not in the least. I am of Major Marion's 
command. He is now in the camp of Gen- 
eral Gates.” 

The burgess was overjoyed at this intelli- 
gence ; he wrung Tom's hand warmly. 
“ Good news,” he cackled, hardly able to 
restrain himself. “ I will go to him in the 
morning — I will offer him the command.” 
Then he paused suddenly and continued in a 
more sober tone. “ Do you think, my lad, 
that he will be inclined to accept ? ” 

Tom thought of his commander’s cold 
reception at the hands of General Gates, and 
answered promptly : 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 137 

“ I rather think he will, sir.” 

“ Good — good ! ” The old fellow went off, 
at this point, into a rapture of chuckling. 
“ Come, you will lodge with me to-night ; I 
will not accept a refusal. Wait until I give 
word to dismiss the company for the day ; 
then you shall have as fine a supper and as 
soft a bed as you have ever had in your life.” 

At the burgess’ command the drill-sergeant 
dismissed the militia ; then Tom and Cole 
were led away to the comfortable stone house 
of the town official ; their horses were put up 
in the stable and baited with corn ; Cole was 
taken in hand by some of the negro servants, 
while his young master was borne off to be 
introduced to the family of the burgess. In 
spite of his worn clothes and unkempt ap- 
pearance, the boy was kindly welcomed by 
his hostess and her blooming daughters. To 
be sure he noticed, now and then, that the 
girls would giggle together, aside, over his 
deerskin hunting-shirt or his leather leggings ; 
but they made up for this by their many little 


138 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

kindnesses ; and the sly looks of admiration 
which they stole at his handsome, sun- 
browned face and tall, sinewy form often 
made his cheeks burn. 

The burgess was as good as his word ; the 
supper which Tom sat down to was the best 
he had eaten for many a long week ; and the 
bed upon which he stretched his tired length 
afterward, being the first he had slept in 
since leaving home, felt fully up to specifica- 
tions. 

Early in the morning the household was 
astir ; and when Tom and the master of the 
house had breakfasted they bid the ladies 
good-bye. The chestnut and the bay were 
ready saddled at the door ; and beside them 
stood a fat, white horse which was to bear 
the weight of the worthy burgess. 

“ He is not very speedy,” admitted the offi- 
cial, “ but he is strong and safe. And that 
last quality, young sir, is not a thing to be 
overlooked when one comes to my age, and 
attains my girth.” 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 139 

The ladies waved their kerchiefs from the 
windows ; the burgess and the young swamp- 
rider took off their caps and bowed in return, 
while Cole grinned like an amiable Goliath. 
Then they shook their reins, and set off for 
the Continental camp, to bear the good tidings 
to Marion. 


CHAPTER VII 


HOW TOM DEEKING FOUGHT WITH GATES 
AT CAMDEN 

Needless to say, Marion received the news 
of Williamsburg’s offer with great satisfac- 
tion ; it was a relief to him to secure a com- 
mand of his own, and he made ready to set 
off with his tattered horsemen, to assume 
control. With this new body came the com- 
mission of colonel, after a few days, from 
Governor Rutledge. 

When his small company were ready to 
leave the camp of Gates, that officer gave 
Marion strict instructions as to the best means 
of rendering him service. The fancy of Gates 
already beheld the squadrons of Cornwallis 
in full flight ; and it is a fact that his greatest 
solicitude at this time seems to have been 
how to secure his captives. 

“ As you march south, colonel,” said he to 


140 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 141 

Marion, “ I want you to make it your special 
duty to destroy all the scows, boats, ferry- 
flats and barges on your route. The enemy 
must be deprived of the means of escaping.” 

“ Very well,” returned Marion, “ I will do 
all I can in this or any other line, general, to 
aid you.” 

But afterward he remarked to Tom, who 
was his trusted confidant : 

“ He never seems to have heard of the barn- 
yard proverb, ‘ Don’t count your chickens be- 
fore they are hatched.’ In his fancy he has 
met the British and routed them on every 
hand. It promises badly for the army, my 
lad.” 

“Can we do nothing, sir?” 

“ I fear not. General Gates is not the man 
to tolerate interference. If he were more 
open to advice he would be a much safer 
leader.” 

With the departure of Marion the better 
genius of Gates left him. The British, under 
Lords Rawdon and Cornwallis, were in pcs- 


142 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

session of Camden, a small town upon the 
east bank of the Wateree ; and Gates con- 
ceived the idea of surprising them. On the 
night of the 15th of August he left his camp 
at Rugely’s Mills and advanced toward Cam- 
den. Upon the same night the British made 
a move to surprise Gates ; so, almost before 
they knew it, the vanguards of the two 
armies met in the darkness near a small 
stream of water known as Sanders Creek. 

Before breaking his camp Gates had sent to 
Marion for a few horsemen who knew the 
country ; and Marion had sent Tom and Cole 
to lend what aid they could. These two were 
in the advance guard* of the American army 
when it encountered that of the British. 
Tom’s big chestnut horse Sultan, up to his 
knees in the waters of Sanders Creek, was the 
first to note the approach of the enemy ; he 
cocked his ears, threw up his head and 
snorted. 

“ What is it, boy? ” said Tom, his eyes run- 
ning over the ground before him as well as 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 143 

the darkness would permit. As though in 
answer there came a scattering of rifle-shots 
and a “ pinging ” of the leaden messengers 
about his ears. 

He wheeled and rode back to the banks. 
Saluting the captain in command, he re- 
ported : 

“ The enemy, sir, seem to be on the other 
side of the creek.’ ’ 

The captain was inexperienced and very 
nervous. 

“ What force is there ? ” asked he. 

“ Could not make out, sir, because of the 
darkness. Shall I cross and try to find out ? ” 

“ If you think it safe,” said the captain. 

“ That it is necessary is enough for me,” 
returned Tom, proudly. 

He spurred Sultan into the water once 
more, and under cover of the night crossed 
the stream. A long line of British cavalry 
was stretched directly in front ; they had, un- 
doubtedly, sent word back to their main body 
and were now waiting for orders. Tom dis- 


144 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

mounted and took a long observation of the 
foe’s position ; when at last he remounted 
and crossed the creek once more, he found 
that General Gates himself had ridden for- 
ward and was anxiously awaiting his report. 

“ Their advance is stretched all along the 
stream, sir,” said the lad, saluting. “ And 
from indications their main body is coming 
up rapidly.” 

A hasty inspection of the ground caused 
Gates to order his force to fall back upon 
some plantations in their rear ; the British, not 
at all sure of what was awaiting them, did 
not cross the creek ; and thus the two armies 
lay upon their weapons waiting for daybreak. 
At the first graying of the eastern heavens 
the British were forming to advance, and the 
Americans were rapidly making ready to re- 
ceive them. If there was any advantage it 
was in favor of Cornwallis. His force was 
composed of veterans, who would be cool under 
most exigencies, while Gates’ army was, for 
the greater part, made up of raw volunteers. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 145 

The First Maryland division, including the 
Delawares under De Kalb, were posted on the 
right ; the Virginia militia were on the left ; 
the North Carolinians, led by the gallant Cas- 
well were in the center, while the artillery, in 
battery, was in the road. Such was the for- 
mation of the American line ; both wings 
rested upon morasses ; the Second Maryland 
brigade was posted as a reserve a few hundred 
yards in the rear of the first. 

The battle began with the advance of the 
American left — the Virginians, under Stevens. 
A galling rifle fire was suddenly poured into 
them ; struck by sudden panic they turned 
and fled, many of them not having even dis- 
charged their pieces. This wretched example 
was followed by the North Carolina division 
in the centre, with the exception of a single 
corps commanded by Major Dixon. The 
small body of cavalry, under Armond, a 
foreign adventurer, broke at the same mo- 
ment. 

Tom Deering had been detained by the 


146 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

commander to carry messages and orders to 
different parts of the field ; he saw the rout, 
and with sinking heart he strove to rally the 
fleeing militia, riding among them, waving 
his sabre and shouting desperately for them 
to stand and reform. 

“ Are you cowards to run at the first fire ? ” 
he shouted. “ Rally, men ; strike a blow for 
freedom and your native state.” 

For very shame some of the fugitives 
halted, and Tom began rapidly reforming 
them. But, just then, the British cavalry 
plunged forward, and the hope of staying the 
panic was gone forever. The devoted Con- 
tinentals — Maryland and Delaware troops, 
all trained soldiers — bore the brunt of the 
action. De Kalb was at their head, for Gates 
had ridden away to the rear in the desperate 
hope of rallying the militia ; the artillery was 
in the hands of the enemy, and the regulars 
who continued to stand fast numbered but 
nine hundred, as opposed to two thousand of 
the best troops in the British service. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 147 

But these stout hearts, undismayed by the 
flight of their comrades, not only resisted the 
attack of the enemy, but actually carried the 
bayonet into their ranks. The combatants 
rushed and reeled with locked weapons ; but 
the struggle could not last, for when the 
British cavalry returned from pursuing the 
fugitives their sabres gave the finishing stroke 
to the affair. The heroic De Kalb fell, 
pierced by fourteen wounds, and at the fall 
of their leader the rank and file broke and 
fled from the field, leaving everything behind 
them. 

When darkness closed in once more it 
found General Gates, with a shattered rem- 
nant of his once formidable force, flying 
along the roads toward North Carolina. As 
for Tom Deering, he was on his way through 
the swamps to rejoin Marion, his eyes full of 
unshed tears and his heart full of the bitter- 
ness that comes with defeat. 


CHAPTER VIII 


HOW TOM BRAYED THE TORIES 

“ Cole ! ” 

A movement of the giant slave’s eyes 
showed that he heard. He and his young 
master had dismounted upon the edge of a 
clump of woods and were carefully surveying 
a large brick mansion that stood in the midst 
of a well-kept park. 

“ I don’t like the looks of things,” said the 
young swamp-rider. “ There are strangers in 
Mr. Foster’s mansion, Cole, and we had better 
be sure of who they are before we venture 
into the open.” 

Cole signified his entire approval of this 
course ; so they tied their horses well among 
the trees and then crawled back to the verge 
of the wood once more. 

Some months had passed since the defeat of 
Gates ; Colonel Marion had now begun to 

148 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 149 

make himself felt in the struggle, and his 
sudden ambuscades and unlooked for on- 
slaughts had made his name a terror to 
British soldier and Tory alike. Not a little 
of the credit of all this was due to the 
devotion to duty shown by Tom Deering and 
his faithful slave. The hoof-marks of Sultan 
and Cole’s bay charger, Dando, were im- 
printed upon every mile of territory between 
the North Edisto River and the Little Peedee. 
The courses of the Congaree and the Wateree 
were as familiar to them as though there were 
not a fresh danger lurking in every turn they 
made. 

They had the hardihood to even penetrate 
the region about Orangeburg and Ninety-Six 
in search of information as to the enemy’s 
movements ; and the news which they gath- 
ered frequently led to disaster for the British 
in the shape of a severe loss of supplies, or the 
destruction of a flying column proceeding 
upon a raid. 

While Tom Deering was willing to take 


150 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

any risks and dare any peril to serve his 
country, still it is doubtful if he would have 
been so eager, so tireless in his efforts if it 
had not been that the thought of his father 
goaded him on. He knew that until the 
Americans retook Charleston there would be 
little chance of his being able to rescue the 
prisoner ; and so he was willing to take his 
life in his hands at any hour of the day or 
night in the hope that by so doing he might 
hasten the hour. 

In his excursions Tom had discovered 
many things of a surprising nature. One of 
these was the fact that there were still some 
of the partisans of congress who were, as yet, 
in possession of their estates. As a rule these 
were very rich and very cautious men ; and 
one of them was Mr. Foster, who owned and 
cultivated great stretches of land between 
the Congaree and Columbia. This rich 
planter had from time to time provided the 
young scout with valuable information. It was 
a search for this very desirable requisite of in- 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 151 

telligent warfare that brought our two friends 
upon the edge of the Foster plantation to-day. 

“ From the appearance of the horses,” said 
Tom, “ the visitors are not soldiers. It may 
be some of our own brigade, Cole.” 

But the black gestured his doubt of this. 
Through long practice he had become master 
of a sort of sign language, and could readily 
communicate his thoughts to his young 
master. 

“ Tories,” signaled Cole. 

“ No, no,” said Tom, “ they would not dare 
disturb Mr. Foster. Why, Cornwallis himself 
has not deemed it wise to do that.” 

“ Tories,” signaled Cole, once more, and 
this time very positively. “ Tories will do 
anything ! ” 

Tom laughed. 

“ You are right in one way, Cole,” said he. 
“ There is not much of a blackguardly or 
bloody nature that they have left undone, in 
this section at least. But, all the same, in 
this case I think you’re wrong.” 


152 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

But Cole remained obdurate ; he seemed 
most unwilling to change his views. They 
were still discussing the situation, Tom in 
low, guarded tones and Cole in his not very 
deft sign language, when suddenly there came 
a strange, smothered sound from overhead, 
followed by a crashing of a heavy body 
through the boughs of a tree, and a man, 
with a cry of fear upon his lips, tumbled to 
the ground at their feet. 

Like a flash Cole had produced his heavy 
pistol and presented it at the man’s head ; 
but Tom pushed it quickly aside. 

“ It is Dogberry,” said he, quietly. “ Put 
up your weapon, Cole.” 

Cole glanced at the newcomer, and then a 
broad grin of recognition spread across his 
face. It was a negro slave belonging to the 
Foster place, and he lay flat upon his back, 
staring at them with great, round eyes, while 
an expression of mingled fear, amazement and 
doubt rested upon his ebony countenance. 

“ Well, Dogberry,” said Tom, laughing at 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 1 53 

the negro’s remarkable entrance on the scene. 
“ Suppose you tell us all about this.” 

“ Mars Tom,” said Dogberry, sitting up, “ is 
dis you, sah ? ” 

“ Of course it is. And here’s Cole, too.” 

“ Lawsee ! I done gone ’most broke my 
black head ! ” Dogberry stared up into the 
tree. “Just look how far I fall, Mars Tom. 
Just you look up there, sah.” 

“ How came you up in the tree ? ” 

“ Mars Foster put me there, sah.” 

“ Mr. Foster. Impossible.” 

“ ’Deed he did, Mars Tom. I’se telling 
you de plain truth. He put me up there 
when de Tory white men comes along to- 
day.” 

“ Tories ! ” exclaimed Tom. “ Where ? ” 

“ They am up at de house, sah, at dis mo- 
ment. And they am carrying on scand’lus 
with de fambly.” 

“ But what were you sent into the tree 
for?” 

“ To watch for you, sah. Mars Foster sort 


154 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

of thought you’d be along dis way to-day, 
Mars Tom ; and I was told to climb up in de 
tree and watch for you, and not let you go up 
to de house, and get cotched by de Tories.” 

“ Thank you, Mr. Foster.” Tom waved one 
hand in the direction of the planter’s man- 
sion. “ I’ll remember that of you, and will 
return the favor some day.” 

Cole began to make rapid passes and signs 
to Dogberry ; the latter, at the best, was much 
in dread of the giant dumb-slave, but just 
now Cole’s earnestness made him very terrible 
in the other’s eyes, indeed. Cole was asking 
how Dogberry, if he was watching in the tree, 
failed to note their approach and neglected 
to make his presence known to them. Very 
much frightened at Cole’s gestures, Dogberry 
clung to Tom. 

“ Don’t let dat nigger harm me, Mars Tom. 
Look at dar ! He’s making a sign dat he’ll 
frow me over de fence ! ” 

At this Cole burst into a gale of laughter ; 
and then Tom explained. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 155 

“ He wants to know why I was in de tree 
and didn’t make no sound ? ” Dogberry 
looked exceedingly foolish, and then con- 
tinued : “ De plain truth, Mars Tom, is dat 
dis nigger done gone went to sleep, and didn’t 
wake till a great big yaller-tailed hornet come 
along and stung him on de nose.” 

“ That accounts for your sudden arrival, 
then,” smiled the young partisan. “ But, tell 
me, Dogberry, how many Tories are at your 
master’s place ? ” 

Dogberry’s knowledge of numbers was ex- 
ceedingly limited ; so he slowly and labor- 
iously counted nine upon his fingers and held 
them up. 

“ Just dis many, sah, and dey am having 
dreadful carryings on. De ladies of de fambly 
is most frightened out of dey wits.” 

“ Nine, eh ! ” Tom looked reflectively at 
Cole and the giant held out his great arms 
and smiled. There were none too many in 
his estimation. But his master was doubtful. 
Tom had partaken of Marion’s caution ; he 


156 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

had seen so much of the Swamp-Fox’s success 
based upon mere carefulness, that he began to 
give caution a place beside courage in the list 
of qualities necessary to a soldier. 

“ How are they armed?” he asked the 
negro. 

“ Dey have swords, sah, like yours ; and 
dey have guns — one apiece, for I counted 
dem. I see dem standing on de lawn under 
de apple tree.” 

“ On the lawn under the apple tree ! ” re- 
peated Tom, his eyes lighting. “ Are you 
sure of that, Dogberry ? ” 

“Yes, sah. Dat’s where I saw ’em put 
dere guns. And I s’pose dey’s there still.” 

“ The lawn has no windows overlooking it 
from the ground floor, Cole,” said Tom slowly. 
“ If we could get those guns we might make 
an important capture.” 

Instantly Cole began to signal to be allowed 
to try to secure them. 

“ No, no,” said Tom, “ we must be sure that 
things are as stated. Dogberry may be mis- 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 157 

taken, or he may have forgotten some- 
thing.” 

At this Dogberry’s eyes grew large and 
bright with sudden recollection. “ Dar, now ! ” 
ejaculated he, “ I did forgot something, sah. 
When dem Tories come up to de place dey 
have some prisoners wif dem.” 

“ Prisoners ! ” 

“ Yes, sah. And dey’s locked up in de 
barn at this minute.” 

“ Very well, Dogberry, you may return to 
the house. Try and get word to Mr. Foster 
that you have seen us ; but be careful and 
don’t let the Tories hear you.” 

“ No, sah ; ’deed I won’t. I’ll be careful, 
sah.” Dogberry slowly made his way through 
the woods until he reached the main road ; 
then he approached the house carelessly as 
though, possibly, just coming back from his 
work on some distant part of the plantation. 

Cole and Tom formed their plans instantly. 
They must release the prisoners, and if possible 
they must secure what ammunition the Tories 


158 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

possessed, for Marion was so badly in need 
of it that even a few rounds would be 
welcome. It was well known that the Tories 
were always well supplied with powder and 
shot ; the king furnished it to them, not grudg- 
ingly as he did to his regular troops, but 
freely ; and they used it in a corresponding 
fashion. 

“ I’ll manage to get the rifles out of their 
reach,” said Tom to Cole. “ You slip around 
to the barn and see if you can liberate the 
men. If there is a guard over them, which 
most likely there will be, dispose of him 
quietly. I need not tell you to avoid un- 
necessary bloodshed, for I know that you 
will do that, anyway.” 

Cole nodded his understanding of his 
master’s instructions and moved softly away ; 
but in a moment he turned and came back. 

“ What’s the matter?” asked Tom, in sur- 
prise. 

Cole held out his hand ; the gesture was 
more eloquent than any words could have 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 1 59 

been ; it spoke of the friendship and love that 
existed between master and man, of the 
affection that began in childhood and would 
only end in death. Tom’s eyes filled with 
tears ; he grasped the outstretched hand 
tightly. 

“ Forgive me, Cole,” said he, “ for not think- 
ing of it first. We are going into danger, and 
either of us, or both, may not come out of it 
alive. If this should prove the case : good- 
bye.” 

Then they separated ; Cole stole away toward 
the back of the house, keeping his huge frame 
well concealed behind the tree trunks and 
thick bush. The barn was a large structure, 
not a great distance from the house, and as 
he came in view of the big doors Cole saw a 
man standing, leaning upon the muzzle of 
a rifle and staring toward the mansion. 

Tom set about his work as cautiously as the 
slave ; he crept along behind the bush and a 
stone fence until he reached a spot almost 
directly in line with the old apple tree which 


i6o FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


Dogberry had mentioned. It stood almost in 
the centre of the lawn ; a few rustic seats were 
at the foot, for it formed a delightful place for 
a rest upon a hot afternoon. 

“ And there are the Tories’ rifles, sure 
enough,” muttered the lad. “ No one seems 
left to watch over them ; so I’d best make the 
move quickly, for there will hardly be a 
better opportunity.” 

After a long, last look about to see that no 
one was observing him, Tom broke from 
cover and boldly stepped out across the lawn 
toward the tree where the guns were standing. 
He deemed it best to attempt the thing boldly ; 
for as it was broad day cunning would be 
thrown away. The rifles were of the variety 
provided by the king to his loyal subjects in 
North America, and were rather heavy. Tom 
took up the entire nine, however, having left 
his own light fowling-piece behind in the 
bush ; it was rather a heavy load, but the 
lad was strong and toughened by constant out- 
door exercise, so he managed to carry them 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 161 


off back along the track by which he had 
approached, and concealed them in a safe 
place. 

Not a sound was to be heard anywhere save 
the low, moaning chant of some slaves at 
work in a far-off field, and an occasional out- 
burst of rude laughter from the mansion. 
There was no sign of Cole; Tom stole to a 
position from which he could view the barn. 
He, too, saw the man with a rifle, on guard 
before the big door. 

“ A man on the watch, as I supposed there 
would be,” muttered the boy. “ I don’t think 
Cole will be able to approach him unseen. 
But, I wonder ” 

He paused suddenly, for the guard at the 
barn door had moved slightly and afforded a 
clearer view of his face. 

“ It’s Cole ! ” breathed Tom, excitedly. 
“ Good for him ! ” 

He watched for a few moments ; but the 
colossal negro did not move ; he might have 
been asleep on his feet, so quietly did he 


162 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


stand. A renewed burst of laughter just then 
came from the house and drew Tom’s atten- 
tion from him for a moment. When his gaze 
returned once more, Cole had vanished ! 

Tom could not believe his eyes for a mo- 
ment; but a second glance proved to him 
that the first had been right. There did not 
seem to be any place near at hand behind 
which Cole could conceal himself ; and Tom 
was greatly puzzled. 

“ However,” he muttered, after a time spent 
in waiting for the great negro to reappear, 
“ wherever Cole is he’ll render a good ac- 
count of himself ; so I need not worry about 
it.” 

He made his way back to the front of the 
Foster house. The lawn was still deserted ; no 
one was in sight, but the boisterous laughter 
of the Tories within showed that they were 
still carrying through their, apparently, fixed 
plan of revelry. 

“ I’d like to get a view of what’s going on,” 
said the lad to himself. “ Mr. Foster has done 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 163 

me many favors and been of great assistance 
to General Marion and the cause ; so I’d risk 
a great deal to help him in any way that I 
could.” 

The more he pondered the matter the more 
he felt inclined to approach the house ; it was 
a daring thing to do, but a scout for the 
Swamp-Fox must become accustomed to 
daring deeds, and Tom had had his share of 
them. 

“ If only Cole were here,” thought he, “ I 
would not hesitate a minute. But here goes 
anyhow ; I’ll trust to luck, for this once, 
though the colonel would be against that sort 
of thing if he were here. He says always be 
sure of your aim and of what you are about 
to strike, before dealing the blow.” 

He had started for the house while he was 
still speaking ; as noticed before, there were 
no windows overlooking the lawn from the 
first floor ; so there was no danger of being 
overseen in this way ; but, still, there was a 
wide doorway leading out upon a long ve- 


i&4 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

randa ; some one might come out and dis- 
cover him at any moment. 

He did not breathe freely until he reached 
the shelter of the walls, against which clung 
and climbed a thick growth of honeysuckle. 
This, at least, would afford a slight conceal- 
ment ; and he worked his way slowly along 
until he was in position to see any one who 
came out of the house by the front door. 

“ It’s good that the vine is thick and rather 
loose at the bottom,” said Tom, drawing the 
tendrils about him. “ It would be a ticklish 
thing to stand here without any cover at all.” 

He stood there for some little time, debating 
as to what his next move should be. He had 
concluded that a venture around the corner 
of the house would be about the best thing 
he could do, when suddenly there came a 
sharp metallic click, followed by the sound 
of a closing door. Tom’s heart beat loudly 
against his ribs ; he peeped through the screen 
of vine leaves toward the veranda. 

A tall young girl stood there ; she was at- 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 165 

tired in white, and her dark eyes were flashing 
with resentment ; there was a hot flush upon 
her cheeks, as she threw out her arms, in a 
gesture of anger, and exclaimed : 

“ Oh, how long is this to last ! how long is 
it to last ! They are brutes to treat my 
father so ; to be taken prisoner by the enemy 
would not be near so bad.” 

“ It’s Lucy,” said Tom to himself, as he 
recognized Mr. Foster’s daughter. “ And 
something unpleasant is happening, just as 
I thought.” 

“ If I were only a man ! ” whispered the 
girl passionately. “If I only had brothers, 
we should see how long these cowards would 
infest my father’s house.” 

There was a short, clear whistle by which 
Tom attracted the attention of the Foster 
household before he ventured into the open 
upon his visits. It was a signal well known 
to Mr. Foster, Lucy and the more trustworthy 
of the slaves ; and Tom now placed his fingers 
to his lips and whistled the notes softly. 


1 66 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


Lucy started as the sound struck her ear ; 
with quick steps she came forward to the rail 
of the veranda and leaned forward eagerly. 
Tom was just about to step from his place of 
concealment behind the vines, when the door 
opened and closed swiftly, and Mark Har- 
wood stood upon the veranda at Lucy Foster's 
side. 

The girl went pale and caught her breath ; 
Tom shrank back among the vines, clutching 
the pistol which he had taken the precaution 
to bring with him. 

“ Miss Lucy," spoke Mark Harwood. 

Anger sparkled in the girl’s eye as he 
addressed her ; it was clear that she held him 
in great aversion. Mark’s face showed the 
same sly, crafty, smiling expression as of 
yore ; and he rubbed his hands together as he 
stood there, exciting in his Cousin Tom’s 
breast an indignant desire to come out and 
kick him. 

“ Why have you left the room and your 
father’s guests ? ’’ inquired Mark. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 167 

“ My father’s guests ! ” Lucy turned upon 
him a look of scorn. 

“ They are all your father’s friends, are they 
not?” 

“ They are his enemies,” returned the 
girl, “ and well you know it, Mark Har- 
wood.” 

“ I am sorry to hear you say that,” said 
Mark, “ because you know that I ” 

“ I also know you to be his enemy,” flashed 
the young lady. 

“ Lucy ! ” his voice was filled with injured 
surprise. 

“ Oh, don’t use that tone to me ! It does 
not deceive me for a moment. You are a 
king’s man — a Tory — a spy of Cornwallis. 
Even at this moment you are here in the 
British general’s pay, to collect any evidence 
that may be injurious to my poor father.” 

“ You are mistaken, Lucy. You do me an 
injustice. It is true that I am loyal to the 
king ” 

“ Yes, and to prove your loyalty you place 


168 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


yourself at the head of a band of men who 
would be a disgrace to the most barbarous 
country ; they kill, burn, and destroy the 
lives and possessions of inoffensive persons, 
and you take pride in it, Mark Harwood ; 
your boasts have reached my ears, even here ! ” 
He looked at her for a moment ; the 
offensive smile gradually faded from his face 
and a bitter look took its place. He saw that 
his pretensions did not throw her off her 
guard, so he showed his true colors. 

“ So you have heard of some of my doings,” 
laughed he, savagely. “ Well, I can’t say that 
it has affected you greatly.” 

“ If you mean that your deeds have not 
frightened me, you are right. I do not fear 
you, Mark Harwood, and I never shall.” 

“ Don’t be too sure of that,” sneered he. 
“ Stranger things have happened. This is a 

nest of rebels, and ” 

“ Prove it.” 

“ Your father’s refusal to aid the cause of 
the king is proof enough.” 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 169 

“ Take care,” said Lucy, bravely. “ Do not 
go too far. Remember that my father has 
powerful friends in England — friends who 
will not desert him if he is in need.” 

“ Do you suppose that I don’t know that? 
His influence has been all that saved him a 
dozen times or more. But he is a rebel, and 
you are a rebel ; don’t deny it.” 

“ I cannot speak for my father,” exclaimed 
Lucy, “ but I can for myself. I love liberty 
and hate the tyrannies of the king.” 

“ Brave girl ! ” exclaimed the concealed 
Tom, incautiously. 

The sound of his voice reached Mark’s ears, 
but not the substance of the words. 

“What was that?” said the young Tory, 
his face paling slightly. But Lucy gazed 
steadfastly away and did not answer. 

“ Did you not hear something like a 
voice ? ” 

She made no reply; he listened for a 
moment and then went half-way down the 
broad stone steps that led to the veranda, and 


170 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

looked about searchingly. Tom flattened 
himself against the wall of the house ; the 
thick, odorous runners of the vine hung in a 
heavy screen before him, effectually hiding 
him from Mark's prying eyes. At length the 
latter returned to the veranda, but his sus- 
picions were aroused, and he looked at Lucy 
from under his frowning brows. 

“ Did you hear a voice ? ” inquired he. 

But still she did not answer ; he bit his lip 
vexedly, then laughed. 

“ Do you know," said he, “ when I stood 
just inside the door there, before coming out, 
I heard voices. Who were you talking to ? ” 

“ I was talking to myself," said Lucy, 
truthfully. 

“ A likely story," he sneered. “ However, 
if there is any one lurking about here I'll beat 
him out like a rabbit." He turned to the 
door and paused with his hand upon the 
catch. “ And, by the way, Miss Lucy," he 
continued, “ you need not trouble yourself to 
warn your friend the rebel, if there is one 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 171 

near at hand ; for it will do no good. We’ll 
catch him if he were as elusive as the Swamp- 
Fox, himself.” 

Then the door closed behind him ; Lucy 
with her breath catching in sobs of fright, 
sprang down the steps. 

“ Where are you? ” she cried. 

“ Here,” answered Tom, stepping from his 
hiding-place. 

“ You are in great danger,” panted Lucy. 

“ I heard all,” said the boy, quietly. 

“ Run,” she cried. “ They will have no 
mercy, if they take you.” 

“ I should expect none in that event.” 

The tramp of feet sounded in the hall, com- 
ing toward the door. 

“ They are coming,” exclaimed the poor, 
frightened girl. “ Oh, what will you do? ” 

“ Calm yourself. If you look as frightened 
as all that they will be assured that they are 
upon the scent of something. Be brave ; 
I know you can do it, Lucy, if you want to.” 

He was unable to say more before the door 


172 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

opened. He turned and ran rapidly and 
softly until he rounded the corner of the 
house at the upper side. A group of fierce, 
hectoring men, with sabres belted at their 
waists, trooped out at the heels of Mark Har- 
wood. 

“ Now, gentlemen,” said the latter, “ I’m 
pretty sure that there is a skulking rebel con- 
cealed about here somewhere. Scatter, and 
run your blades into every bush. We’ll be 
sure to stir him out of his hiding.” 

The Tories did as directed, while Lucy 
stood watching them from the steps. She 
seemed calm enough ; but the twitching of 
her mouth and the light in her eyes showed 
the fear that was almost overwhelming her. 
However, she had no cause for immediate 
fear, for the very daring of Tom Deering had, 
by this time, placed him out of pressing 
danger. 

Upon the upper side of the house were a 
number of long, narrow windows, set with 
diamond shaped panes of glass. These 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 173 

opened from the dining-room ; and at the 
very first one, upon turning the corner of the 
house, the lad saw the black, scared face of 
the slave Dogberry, looking down at him. 

“ Goodness me ! ” Dogberry stared with all 
his might. “ Am dat really you, Mars Tom?” 
“ Yes ; who’s there with you, Dogberry ? ” 

“ Not anybody, sah. They all just now 
rush out to cotch you.” 

Without a moment’s hesitation, Tom Deer- 
ing sprang up, caught the ledge of the win- 
dow and drew himself up. He had just van- 
ished, through the window, when the first 
Tory rounded the corner. 


CHAPTER IX 


HOW TOM DEERING HELD THE STAIRCASE 

The dining-room of the Foster mansion 
presented an appearance of great confusion, 
and Tom looked about in astonishment. The 
furniture was thrown about in much disorder ; 
some of the costly pictures had been torn from 
the walls ; others hung askew ; valuable bric- 
a-brac was shattered upon the hearth. 

“ What has been going on here, Dogberry ? ” 
asked the young swamp-rider. 

“ Didn’t I told you, Mars Tom, dat dose 
gemmen was carrying on scand’lus. Just 
take a look around and see if I ain’t right.” 

At this moment a thin, white-faced man 
entered the apartment ; he had the appearance 
of an invalid, and seemed very much dis- 
turbed. At sight of the boy he started back, 
with a cry. 

“ You here ! ” he exclaimed, astonished. 


174 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 175 

“ Yes, Mr. Foster,” quietly, “ I am here. 
Pardon my entering without being asked ; 
but your Tory visitors became a trifle too 
pressing outside there.” 

“ Oh,” cried Mr. Foster, “ when shall I rid 
myself of them ! See what they have done,” 
with a gesture of one thin hand at the ruin 
of his precious objects of art ; “ wanton van- 
dalism — without a shadow of excuse.” 

“ The cowards ! ” broke out Tom, angrily. 

“They demanded wine,” said Mr. Foster, 
“ well knowing that I never keep it in the 
house ; and because I was unable to produce 
it for their entertainment they proceeded to 
destroy whatever their hands fell upon.” 

“ It’s a shame,” cried Tom, his voice full of 
honest indignation at the outrage and sincere 
pity for the frail, white-faced man who could 
not resent the wrong done him. “ But we’ll 
see what we can do for these gentry before 
the day is over.” 

“ Your cousin, Mark Harwood, is their 
leader,” said Mr. Foster. 


176 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

Tom reddened with shame at the words. 
“ Mr. Foster/' said he, “ he is a sort of cousin 
of mine, it is true ; but not a single drop of 
the Deering blood flows in his veins." 

“ Forgive me," cried Mr. Foster. “ I had 
not intended, my boy, to make you remember 
a relationship that must be painful to you at 
all times. But," looking hurriedly about, 
“ we must not forget that you are in a posi- 
tion of no little peril. If the Tories were to 
return and find you here " 

“ Dey am returning, Mars Foster ! " ex- 
claimed Dogberry, who had left the apart- 
ment as Mr. Foster entered, and now came 
posting back, his black face shining with 
excitement. “ Dey’s all on de veranda now, 
sah." 

Tom glanced swiftly toward the window. 

“ No, no," cried Mr. Foster, “ not that ; 
they may be watching for you there." 

“ I must get cover of some kind," said Tom. 
“ Do you not hear their footsteps ? I shall be 
caught like a rat in a trap ! " His glance 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 177 

traveled rapidly about the room. “ Have 
you not a cupboard or some such thing in 
which I can conceal myself? ” 

“ No,” said Mr. Foster, in despair. But 
suddenly his face lighted up. “ I have it ; 
the very thing.” 

Grasping Tom by the arm he threw open a 
door. The boy found himself in a wide hall- 
way at the end of which was a broad steep 
flight of stairs leading to the floor above. 
Almost at the foot of the staircase was a 
large clock whose wooden works made a bur- 
ring sound as they moved, and whose great 
pendulum ticked loudly, slowly, solemnly. 
The clock almost reached from floor to ceil- 
ing : Mr. Foster threw open the painted glass 
door. 

“ There is room for you there,” said he. 

In a moment Tom was inside the big clock 
with the door closed upon him ; almost at 
the same moment the outer door opened, and 
the Tories came stamping noisily into the 
hall. 


178 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

“ I don’t believe there is any one about the 
place except those who belong here,” said one 
of them in a loud voice. 

“ I tell you I heard a strange voice,” in- 
sisted Mark Harwood. 

“ Bah ! ” The owner of the big voice was 
a huge man, with massive limbs and the torso 
of a giant. As he came down the hall he 
grumbled, “ How long are you going to keep 
us at this place, anyhow ; let’s put the torch 
to it and be off.” 

“ Plenty of time for that,” said Mark. 
“ Don’t be in a hurry.” 

“ Hurry,” growled the big man. “ We’ve 
been here,” he drew out a heavy gold watch, 
u almost three hours,” he continued, consult- 
ing the timepiece. 

“ Oh, your watch is wrong ! ” 

“ Wrong ! This watch is never wrong. 
But, hold on, let’s compare it with Master 
Foster’s clock.” 

Tom held his breath as the speaker paused 
before the clock. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 179 

“ Hello, the confounded thing has stopped,” 
said the big man. “ Run down, I suppose. 
Wait, gentlemen ; I’ll do Foster a favor by 
opening his clock and winding it up.” 

He had his hand upon the catch of the clock 
door when Mark Harwood pulled him away. 

“ Never mind the clock,” said the latter ; 
“ let us attend to more important matters.” 

Mr. Foster had re-entered the dining-room 
as soon as Tom had hidden himself in the clock 
case ; therefore he neither saw nor heard what 
passed in the hall. The Tories came into the 
room, their swords clanking and their spurs 
jingling. 

“ It’s a good thing for you, Foster,” growled 
the huge man, whose name, by the way, was 
Clarage — a notorious bully and leader of a 
body of Major Gainey’s loyalists — “ that we 
did not find any one lurking about the 
grounds.” 

“ You could not have done much worse 
than you have already done,” said Mr. Foster, 
bitterly. 


180 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


“ So you think,” put in Mark Harwood. 
“ But we would have proven you wrong 
without loss of time, my dear sir ; mind you 
that.” 

“ A long rope and a stout limb for the spy,” 
laughed Clarage ; “ and not to be any way 
mean, Foster, we would have given you a 
place beside him.” 

Lucy Foster came in at that moment, and 
her eyes filled with renewed resentment as 
she heard these words addressed to her inva- 
lid father. 

“ How long, Mr. Clarage,” she asked, “ is 
this to continue? My father is not strong, 
as you well know ; your ruffianly behavior 
is making him ill ! ” 

“ Ah, it is the little rebel,” laughed Clarage, 
in his bull-like tones. Then he turned to 
Mark Harwood. “ Do you know, Harwood, 
who she reminds me of as she stands there 
with her eyes flashing and her little hands 
clinched ? Why, that cousin of yours — 
Laura, you know. Why man, it seems to 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 181 


me that all the prettiest girls in the colony 
are rebels.” 

“ But Laura will not remain one for any 
great length of time,” said Mark. “ And 
neither would Miss Lucy, here, for all her 
angry looks, under like conditions.” 

“ Why, how is that? ” 

“ Laura is to be married,” returned Mark. 

Tom Deering, in the tall clock, started. 

“ Married, eh ? ” said Clarage. “ And when, 
pray?” 

“ On next Christmas eve.” 

“ And to whom ? ” 

“ To Lieutenant Cheyne, of Tarleton’s 
horse.” 

Laura married ! and to the inhuman mon- 
ster who had tortured poor Cole ! Tom could 
not, would not believe it ! 

“ I did not fancy she’d consent to wed a 
king’s officer,” said one of the Tory band. 
“ She was always a proud little thing — a very 
spitfire.” 

“ Oh, she’ll consent fast enough,” laughed 


182 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


Mark. “ She refused Cheyne, point-blank, 
when my father proposed the match ; but 
before Christmas day comes around, she’ll 
have changed her mind, I’ll promise you 
that. My father is not a man to be balked in 
his purpose by a slip of a girl.” 

“ Why did he select Cheyne as her hus- 
band ? ” asked Clarage, with interest. “ Come, 
tell us that ; I’ll warrant there’s some good 
reason for it.” 

“ There is a good reason for everything 
that Jasper Harwood does,” said the Tory 
who had before spoken. 

“ You are right in that,” said Mark. “ You 
see, father is very anxious that the estate of 
our rebel relative, Deering, who was taken 
in arms against the king, shall not revert to 
the crown.” 

“ Very good of him,” said some one. “ But 
it is the first time that I knew him to have 
any friendly feeling toward Deering.” 

“ He has none. It is not for Deering’s 
sake that my father is anxious, but for his 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 183 

own. You see, he wants the estate for 
himself.” 

A gale of laughter went up at this con- 
fession. Lucy had been urging her father 
to go to his chamber, as his face was growing 
more drawn and haggard every moment, 
showing that the strain was greater than he 
cared to admit. At last he consented ; she 
opened the door leading into the hall and he 
passed out, thinking that Lucy was following 
him. He paused at the tall clock to speak 
an encouraging word to the boy concealed 
therein, then looked surprisedly about for 
Lucy. 

“ She has gone on up to her room without 
waiting for me,” said he, to himself. Then 
with another “ courage, my lad,” to Tom, he 
ascended the staircase. 

In the meantime Mark Harwood was ex- 
plaining, with evident delight, his father’s 
reasons for marrying Laura to the British 
dragoon. 

“ Cheyne,” said he, “ has some very high- 


184 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

class connections across the water ; an uncle 
is the Duke of Shropshire, you know, and 
the Marquis of Dorking is a cousin. Both 
of these gentlemen are very friendly with the 
king and Lord North ; so, you see, with the 
lieutenant in the family, there is no great 
danger of our losing the Deering estate.” 

Another shout of laughter greeted this ; the 
crafty methods of Jasper Harwood seemed to 
please the Tories greatly. Suddenly there 
came a loud bellowing from Clarage, and the 
laughter ceased. 

“ Where has Foster gone?” demanded the 
Tory. “ What has become of him ? He 
was here a moment ago.” 

“ He’s up to some trick,” cried Mark Har- 
wood excitedly. “ There is a Whig spy about, 
somewhere ; and Foster has gone to warn and 
help him to elude us.” 

There was an instant rush for the door ; 
but Lucy Foster stood there barring their 
passage. 

“ My father is unwell,” she said, quietly, 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 185 

but with a slight tremble in her voice. “ He 
has gone to his chamber to rest.” 

“ Ah, is it so, indeed,” sneered young Har- 
wood. “ Well, we will assure ourselves of 
that, Miss Lucy, if you please. Stand aside.” 

“ I will not ! ” cried she, defiantly. 

n Don’t waste words with her,” growled 
Clarage. “ There is no knowing what her 
rebel father is up to while we are parleying 
with her, here.” 

“ I shall not move ! ” exclaimed Lucy, in 
ringing tones. “My father has gone to his 
chamber because he is unwell — I give you my 
word for that. Is it not enough ? ” 

“ No,” said Harwood. “ We’ll see for our- 
selves.” 

“ You shall not disturb him. It is cruel — 
it is a sin — for he is weak and ill.” 

Without any further words the Tories 
sprang at her. But at that same instant the 
door, against which the brave girl had placed 
her back, opened behind her ; a strong arm 
drew her quickly into the hall ; then the 


186 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


door closed with a snap and the astounded 
king’s men found themselves facing, not a 
weak girl, but a tall, muscular youth with a 
keen bronzed face, steady, cool eyes, and a 
naked sabre in his hand. 

“ Gentlemen,” said he, his fearless gaze 
traveling over them as he stood there, “ I bid 
you good-day.” 

“ Tom Deering,” cried Mark Harwood, 
astounded. 

“ Quite so ! ” The young swamp-rider’s 
eyes were filled with scorn as he addressed 
himself to his Tory cousin. “ You are sur- 
prised to see me, I take it.” 

“ Who is this fool that places his head in 
the lion’s mouth ? ” roared Clarage, his deep 
voice sounding like the rumbling of distant 
thunder. 

“ Don’t flatter yourself.” Tom’s level gaze 
met Clarage’s furious one, with quiet assurance. 
“ There are no lions here ; it is more like a 
nest of rats.” 

With a snarl the big Tory dragged his 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 187 

heavy, brass hilted sword from its scab- 
bard. 

“ Then feel of the rat’s teeth,” he growled 
drawing back his arm for a tremendous 
blow. 

“ It’s the scout of the Swamp-Fox,” cried 
Mark Harwood. “ Cut him down.” 

Tom smiled at the eagerness in his cousin’s 
voice, and at his very evident disinclination 
to try to put the words into execution upon 
his own account. The careful teaching of 
Victor St. Mar had not been forgotten ; on the 
contrary, Tom had not ceased to practice with 
small sword and sabre each day of his life ; 
until, at last, there was not a man in Marion’s 
brigade that could stand before him sword in 
hand. 

This gave him a feeling of confidence when 
Clarage drew back his heavy blade to cut him 
down, as Mark Harwood had cried out for him 
to do. The Tory had great strength, it was 
true, but the lad’s practiced eye told him that 
there was absolutely no skill behind it. 


188 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


“ Now, my jackanapes,” bellowed Clarage, 
“ I’ll nail you against the door ! ” 

The heavy blade cut downward with a 
swish. But it was met and deftly turned 
aside ; and the wielder of it received a sharp, 
contemptuous rap upon the side of the head 
from the flat of the boy’s sabre, in return. 

“ Rats ! ” rang out Tom’s voice. “ Rats, all 
of you ! Insulters of girls and bullies of old 
men ! You dare not face one who rides with 
Marion. I defy you all ! ” 

For, at this exhibition of his dexterity with 
the blade which he held in his hand, the Tories 
had ceased to display any undue eagerness to 
come forward. Clarage, indeed, made well 
nigh mad with rage, strove to get in a cut ; 
but the flashing sabre of the swamp-rider 
drove him back with ease. 

“ Pistols,” cried one. “ At him with the 
pistols.” 

“ They are in the holsters in the stable,” 
returned another. This was a fact that had 
been noted by Tom ; the total absence of fire- 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 189 

arms among the Tories was the reason for his, 
seemingly, uncalled for boldness. 

“ Are we to let one boy hold us at bay/' 
shouted Clarage, flecks of white foam appear- 
ing upon his lip, so great was his rage. “ At 
him, all together ! Cut him down ! ” 

A circle of drawn swords flashed in Tom’s 
eyes ; but before they could strike, he had 
vanished through the door and clapped it in 
their faces. 

“ After him,” bawled Clarage, in a hoarse, 
thick voice, as he tore the door open and 
dashed into the hall. “ Don’t let him escape.” 

“ Don’t trouble yourself, my dear sirs,” 
came a steady, resolute voice from above. In 
amaze they glared upward. About midway 
on the staircase stood the bold youth who had 
so braved their wrath, his sabre point resting 
upon the step upon which he stood. “ I have 
not the slightest intention of escaping ; your 
company is too entertaining for me to desire to 
leave you.” 

“ We have him safely,” said Mark Har- 


190 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

wood in tones of triumph. “ Escape is im- 
possible now ; get the muskets, Fannin,” to 
one of the others, “ well soon bring him to 
his knees.” 

The man shot quickly down the hall and 
out at the front door. Tom’s laugh rang in 
the ears of the seven who remained, for he 
was thinking of the disappointment that was 
in store for them. 

“ He must be mad,” growled Clarage at 
this. “ No sane person would laugh at the 
prospect of certain death.” 

“ Right,” said Tom. “ You are always 
right, except when you imagine you can 
handle a sword.” 

Once more his laugh rang out ; and before 
he had done, the man sent for the firearms 
came racing back. 

“ The rifles are gone,” he announced. 

“ Gone ! ” they stared at him in consterna- 
tion. “ What do you mean, Fannin ? ” 

“ Just what I say,” returned the Tory. 
“ The rifles have been carried off.” 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 191 

“ I have taken good care of that,” cried the 
lad on the staircase. “ Your rifles, gentlemen, 
are where you will not be able to find them 
in a hurry. If you want to take me it must 
be hand to hand.” 

“ Then hand to hand it shall be,” roared 
Clarage, his face purple with passion. “ Shall 
it be said,” he cried, turning to his companions, 
“ that one rebel boy held back and defied 
eight loyal subjects of the king ? ” 

His was the boldest spirit among them, and 
now its influence began to be felt. 

“ No ! No ! ” they shouted. 

“ Then at him, like men. I only ask you 
to follow me.” 

They took tighter grips upon the hilts of 
their swords. There was a window at the 
head of the staircase and a landing just under 
it. A broad beam of sunlight streamed 
through the window and bathed the staircase 
and the boy upon it in a flood of golden 
light. As the Tories brandished their 
swords for the rush, Tom heard a slight 


192 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

sound behind him ; turning his head a little 
he saw Lucy Foster, pale faced and with 
clasped hands, standing upon the landing 
near the window. 

“ Don’t come any farther, if you value your 
safety and mine, also,” he had just time to 
call to her, and then the Tories were upon 
him. Clarage was first ; he delivered a 
mighty cut at Tom’s head, but it was put 
aside and the young swamp-rider’s blade bit 
deeply into his right shoulder. Clarage 
uttered a roar of rage ; his right arm was 
helpless, but he transferred his sword to his 
left and came on again. At each side of 
Clarage and over his shoulder the other 
Tories were cutting and thrusting desperately 
at Tom. The blows came swiftly and fre- 
quently ; but his blade met them all, darting 
here and there like a streak of light and 
seeming at times to twine about their own 
like the coils of a metallic snake. 

Desperately the battle waged on their part 
and gallantly upon his ; the girl behind him, 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 193 

upon the landing, more than once cried out 
in fear as she saw almost certain death threat- 
ening the youth from the Tories’ sword points ; 
but each time he redoubled his exertions and 
swept the staircase clear of his foes. 

However, this could not last ; he was but 
human, and his strength at last began to fail ; 
two of his assailants were lying, disabled, at 
the foot of the stairs, and the others, to a 
man, bore testimony to his prowess. But, 
when they saw his strength waning, under 
the urging of Mark Harwood they pressed 
upon him, dealing showers of blows with 
their heavy sabres. 

“ Surrender,” cried Mark Harwood. 

“ You’ll take me, if you get me at all,” 
panted Tom, dealing an ugly cut at the 
nearest Tory. 

“ Then take you we will,” shouted the bull 
voice of Clarage. “ Press on, men ; he can- 
not strike so swiftly now. Press on and we 
have him.” 

They crowded upon him with loud shouts 


194 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

and whirling swords. Step by step he was 
beaten back, breathless, exhausted, but fight- 
ing on. And when the moment came when 
he must be taken or cut down, there was a 
sudden crashing sound from behind him ; the 
glass of the window at the landing was splint- 
ered and the frame was dashed in upon the 
floor. The lad’s heart sank, for he fancied it 
must be some of the enemy come to take him 
in the rear. He dared not turn his head to 
see, for the blows were showering about him ; 
but, then, his heart gave a great bound of joy 
as a strange, weird cry sounded in his ears 
and the giant form of Cole sprang through 
the shattered window and stood towering and 
glaring beside him. 

But, as it chanced, the colossal slave was 
weaponless. Mighty as was his strength he 
could not pit his naked hands against the 
Tories’ swords. At the turn of the staircase, 
on the landing, a thick oaken post, carved 
and about the height of a fair-sized man 
stood, supporting the stair-rail. 



C'TEP BY STEP HE WAS 
° BEA TEN BA CK 







FIGHTING KING GEORGE 195 

With a bound he had reached it ; with a 
mighty wrench he tore it from its place ; and, 
waving this massive weapon as lightly as a 
child would a sword of lath, he flung himself 
into the fight. 

Tom was about striking his last weak blow, 
as the Tories saw clearly. But before the 
terrific onslaught of the giant they recoiled, 
amazed ; the huge club wheeled about his 
head once, twice, thrice and they were swept, 
howling, to the bottom of the stairs. 

“ Brave Cole ! ” Tom gasped the words as 
he sank back upon the stairs, exhausted. 
“ Strike hard ; it’s our lives or theirs.” 

At that time one of the party discovered 
Mr. Foster’s arms chest ; the Tories threw 
themselves upon it with shouts of delight and 
in another moment a blazing volley swept 
up the staircase, the bullets singing spitefully 
past Cole’s ears. 

“ Back,” cried Tom. “ Back, Cole.” 

They bounded round the turn in the stairs, 
Tom bearing the frightened girl with him. 


196 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

Another volley crashed into the wall, behind 
where they had just stood. 

“ They will be upon us in a moment,” said 
Tom, his face pale, but his eyes burning with 
a resolute light. “ Miss Lucy, leave us ; we 
cannot hope to hold them back, now ; you 
will be in danger.” 

The Tories were reloading in the hall ; 
Clarage was roaring in furious delight and 
stamping about like an enraged lion. Cole 
was rapidly telling Tom all about what had 
been done at the barn, his fingers flying like 
mad. 

“ They are ours now,” stormed Clarage, in 
loud triumph. “ We'll make them beg ; the 
rebels, the dogs — we'll show them what king's 
men can do.” 

“ It's high time you were doing it.” Tom 
bent over the broken rail at the place from 
where Cole had torn his mighty club. “ It 
seems to me, the loyal subjects of the king 
have performed rather badly to-day.” 

“ But we'll do better from now on,” laughed 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 197 

Clarage, who had in the height of their tri- 
umph actually begun to grow good-humored. 
“ Are you ready, gentlemen ? ” to the 
others. 

“Yes, yes,” "came a chorus. 

To the astonishment of all, Tom Deering 
stepped boldly forward into plain view ; he 
was without weapons, and Clarage, with a roar 
of laughter, at once jumped to the conclusion 
that he meant to surrender. 

“ He has weakened,” he yelled. “ The 
rebel has weakened.” 

“ Shoot him down,” cried Mark Harwood, 
from well in the rear. “No quarter ! ” 

Tom held up his hand, quietly ; he showed 
not the slightest trace of fear, for the things 
that Cole had made him understand had 
filled him with confidence. The Tories 
below gazed up at him in astonishment. 
Tom spoke : 

“ I charge all men within hearing of my 
voice to lay down their arms, in peace. You 
are enemies to your neighbors and to Caro- 


198 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

lina, and in the name of the Continental 
Congress, I call upon you to surrender.” 

“ He’s mad ! ” burst out Clorage, “ as mad 
as a March hare ! ” 

“ Down with him,” shrilled the voice of 
Mark Harwood. “ No quarter to the rebel.” 

The muskets were about to be raised to 
their owners’ shoulders ; Tom’s voice rang 
out warningly. 

“ On your lives, lay down your arms.” 

A shout of derision greeted the words ; 
then the young swamp-rider’s fingers went to 
his lips ajid a sharp, shrill whistle split the 
air. It was the signal that Cole had arranged 
with the released prisoners ; and like magic 
it was answered. Through every door and 
window, it seemed, sprang a resolute man ; 
before the Tories could raise a hand a shatter- 
ing volley was poured into them. A cloud 
of smoke, cries and the sound of heavy blows 
were swept up the staircase ; Lucy, her hand 
pressed to her wildly-beating heart, made as 
though to look over the rail at the awful 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 199 

scene below. But Tom put her aside, almost 
roughly. 

“ Don’t look,” said he. “ There is nothing 
there for you to see.” 

The words were scarcely out of his mouth 
when the door below opened with a crash ; 
shouts and cries were heard upon the veranda 
and lawn. Tom rushed to a window and 
looked out. He was just in time to see Mark 
Harwood, Clarage and the other surviving 
Tories rush toward the barn, spring upon the 
backs of the horses which the liberated pris- 
oners had brought out for their own use, and 
gallop swiftly away. 


CHAPTER X 


how Marion's men lay in ambush, and 

WHAT CAME OF IT 

This encounter of Tom Deering with the 
loyalists at the Foster mansion made a great 
stir. Mr. Foster, of course, could no longer 
remain at his home, where the British were 
likely to close in upon him at any time ; so 
he and Lucy, taking their most valuable pos- 
sessions, made their way northward toward 
Virginia. From this time on, also, the British 
commander, Cornwallis, displayed a greater 
solicitude than ever in the attempts to cap- 
ture Marion and disperse his band of horse- 
men. 

The legion of Tarleton and a strong force 
under Major Wemyss were set in motion to 
beat him out of his retreats in the cane-brakes 
and swamps. It was Cornwallis' intention to 


200 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 201 


have these forces cooperate, but Tarleton was 
delayed and Wemyss would not wait for him. 

Through his young scout Marion was kept 
posted as to the movements of the advancing 
enemy. 

“ Major Wemyss is in command of the 
Sixty-third Regiment,” reported Tom, “ and 
he has with him, also, a large party of Tories, 
under Clarage.” 

“ Very good,” said Colonel Marion, briefly. 
“ We must prepare to give them the reception 
that is due them.” 

Major James, a gallant and skilful officer, 
was summoned and dispatched with a select 
body of volunteers to reconnoitre. All the 
outposts were called in and, thus united, 
Marion followed swiftly upon the footsteps of 
James. 

Accompanying the latter was Tom, Cole, 
and Nat and David Collins. They pushed 
quickly forward among the morasses and 
sunk-land, under the great trees hanging 
with moss and a rank growth of creepers ; and 


202 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


at last Major James gave the word to 
halt. 

“ Deering,” said he to Tom, “ ride carefully 
forward. I fancy we are about to come in 
touch with the enemy. Take a few of the 
men with you.” 

Tom selected Cole, of course, and the two 
Collinses. They rode slowly forward, in 
Indian file, along a narrow road between two 
impassable morasses, alert and cautious, never 
for a moment forgetting that they were in 
the neighborhood of the British. 

“ I hear,” said Nat Collins, who rode at 
Tom’s side, “ that Clarage took some prisoners 
north of this place.” 

“ Prisoners ! ” the word always had a pecul- 
iar interest for Tom ; it set him thinking of 
his father, so long in the hands of the British 
— made him long for a sight of him again. 

“ A rich booty came with these prisoners, 
too, so the report goes,” continued Nat. “ A 
booty that King George’s treasury will never 
see, I suppose.” 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 203 

“ The Tories make this war an excuse for 
plunder,” said Tom. “ A great many of 
them are more actuated by a desire to seize 
upon their neighbors’ goods, than by longing 
to serve King George.” 

Cole, who rode in front, at this point drew 
rein upon Dando, and held up his hand. All 
halted immediately. From far off in the 
swamp came a low, steady sound, a rising 
and falling that seemed to draw nearer with 
each passing moment. 

“What is it?” asked David Collins, in a 
hushed voice. 

“ It’s like the sound of hoofs,” answered 
Tom. “ Hoof-beats in a swamp, I’ve noticed, 
have a strangeness about them that seems 
uncanny. The ground is so soft, and the 
thick growth muffles the sound so. I’ve lain 
and listened to them many times in the night ; 
they sound all the more strange coming 
through the darkness.” 

But he was not sure that this was the same 
sound ; and they became silent once more and 


204 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

listened attentively. Suddenly a night bird 
began to wheel in short circles above the tree- 
top, and its rasping cries broke the stillness 
abruptly. 

“ We’ll not be able to make sure while that 
fellow is about,” laughed Tom. “ He seems 
to object to our presence.” 

He dismounted and gave Sultan’s rein to 
Cole. Kneeling in the narrow road he 
pressed his ear to the ground, and kept it 
there for a long time. At length he arose. 

“ Yes, horses,” said he, “ and quite a lot of 
them. They seem to be coming along the 
main road, west of here.” He remounted 
Sultan and sat silently for a moment. Then 
he continued, “ They are going in the direc- 
tion of the ford that crosses the Congaree near 
Fort Mott. There is only one reason why a 
party of the enemy should be heading for 
Fort Mott at this time, when they have only 
started out to seek us.” 

“ I know,” broke in Nat Collins, “ I know 
what you are thinking. It’s the Tories, 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 205 

under Clarage, and they are taking the 
prisoners, which I spoke of, to the fort for 
safe keeping.” 

“ Right,” said Tom, his eyes snapping ; 
“ that is exactly what occurred to me. And, 
look here, what a pity it is that Major James 
is not here, and the rest of his men. The 
Tories will be forced to pass the ruined mill 
that stands back from the west road, a short 
distance from here. We could reach that 
point long before them, judging from the 
sound of their horses’ feet, and we could give 
them a surprise.” 

For a moment there was silence ; then Nat 
and David broke forth, at once. 

“ Let us try it — alone ! ” 

Tom laughed in sheer glee, and cried ex- 
citedly, 

“ Do you mean it ? ” 

“ We do,” in a breath. 

Tom turned to Cole. The great negro 
grinned ; anything that his young master 
thought of doing was always of great interest 


206 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


to Cole, because, as a rule, what his young 
master thought it worth while to do usually 
contained some spice of excitement. Tom 
knew what the slave’s grin expressed as well 
as though it had been in words. 

“ Good ! ” cried he. “ We’re all agreed ; 
and we’ll try it alone. It can do no harm, 
even if we fail.” 

Wheeling their horses they spurred back 
along the road by which they had come, 
until they struck a narrow path branching 
tpward the west. Galloping through such a 
swamp as that and along such a narrow, 
crooked track, in the darkness, was a most 
dangerous proceeding ; but they were all 
young and danger, to their ardent spirits, 
meant but little. 

The old mill of which Tom had spoken lay 
upon the west road — that is the road leading 
to the Congaree; — it was deserted and had 
fallen into ruins years before. It was seldom 
that any one troubled it with his presence; 
so it was an ideal spot for a surprise or ambus- 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 207 

cade. A sharp gallop of, perhaps, a quarter 
of an hour brought our four adventurers to 
the old mill. The moon was shining brightly ; 
but the overhanging trees that surrounded 
the ruin threw it into a deep shadow. A 
dense thicket stretched along the roadside 
well in this shadow, and it was behind this 
that our friends ensconced themselves, after 
first securing their horses among the trees. 

The hoof-beats of the party advancing along 
the western road now sounded distinctly in 
their ears. There was little wind, but it was 
blowing in their direction, and it carried the 
ringing strokes toward them when the ap- 
proaching riders came upon a stony part of 
the road ; but, as a rule, the sound was thick, 
dull and heavy, for the ground was soggy, for 
the most part, and low. 

“ Look well to your primings/’ spoke Tom, 
as they crouched behind the thicket. “ And 
keep your pistols at hand, for we will need a 
second volley.” 

Nearer and nearer came the riders; the 


208 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


rumble of wheels could, also, now be dis- 
tinguished ; and soon in the moonlit road 
they saw about a dozen horsemen, some riding 
ahead and some alongside a small train of 
four wagons. 

“ It’s an escort with Clarage’s prisoners, 
sure enough,” Nat Collins breathed into Tom 
Deering’s ear. “ See, they have all the 
plunder in the wagons, just as they took it.” 

The wagons rumbled along slowly, drawn 
by plodding old plough-horses ; the steeds of 
the escort champed at their bits and pranced 
impatiently at the slowness of the pace. 

“ Ready,” ordered Tom, in a low, sharp 
whisper. “ I’ll give the word.” 

The cavalcade was almost abreast of them 
when one of the escort called out, apparently 
addressing some one in one of the wagons. 

“ So you thought you would run off up to 
Virginia, did you, Master Foster, and give us 
the slip ! Well, it’s a rare good thing that 
I fell in with you, or who knows but you 
might have fallen in with some dishonest 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 209 

rogues upon the way who might have robbed 
you of the valuables contained in your 
wagons.' 7 

“ It's Clarage, himself/' said Tom, startled. 
‘/And his prisoners are Mr. Foster and his 
daughter Lucy." He paused a moment, then 
leveled his piece over the top of the thicket, 
his companions doing likewise. “ Fire," he 
cried. 

The four leveled rifles were discharged at 
once ; two men fell from their saddles into 
the road ; another, desperately wounded, clung 
to his horse's neck as it raced madly away 
along the road. 

“ Hold your ground," roared Clarage, his 
bull-like voice plainly to be heard above all 
the confusion. His men had drawn together 
in a group, their horses pawing and fight- 
ing for their heads against the tautly-drawn 
bridles. 

“ The pistols," whispered Tom. “ Fire ! " 

The long-barreled pistols, of which each of 
the swamp-riders carried two, exploded in their 


210 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


turn ; a man and several horses went down ; 
then the second pistol came into play for a 
third volley with deadly results. By this 
time Clarage and his followers, or what were 
left of them, were struck by a panic; the 
three volleys of shots from the thicket made 
it seem as though the ambushment was com- 
posed of a great number of men ; so, when 
the four leaped in a body into the road, their 
swords flashing, and Tom turned and called, 
as though cheering on still more, “ Come on, 
lads ; down with the Tories,” the escort could 
not be restrained, but gave rein to their steeds 
and fled down the road toward the Congaree 
with the raging Clarage thundering at their 
heels at every bound. 

At their flight Tom placed his foot on the 
hub of a wheel and sprang into the leading 
wagon. 

“ Lucy,” he cried, “Mr. Foster.” 

“ It’s Mars Tom,” cried Dogberry, who had 
been driving the wagon, but who at the first 
shot had dived under the seat. “ It’s Mars 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 211 

Tom, Missy Lucy. We’s safe again. Ha, ha, 
ha!” 

In a moment Lucy Foster and her father 
were thanking them for this timely service. 
Both were pale and worn looking, especially 
Mr. Foster, who had been greatly disturbed at 
the attack of the swamp-riders. 

“We were on our way north,” explained 
Mr. Foster, “ and were approaching Fishdam 
Ferry when we were pounced upon by this 
man Clarage and his ruffians. All that I 
have been able to save is contained in these 
wagons ; that and our lives, also, would have 
been lost had you not appeared just as you did.” 

“ Oh, when will it all end,” cried poor 
Lucy, wringing her hands. “ It is dreadful ; 
I shall never forget the scenes I have witnessed 
in the past few weeks ! ” 

“ Don't fear,” soothed Tom. “ Marion will 
lend you an escort and see your father safe on 
your journey. Meanwhile we had better be 
on our way back. Major James will be await- 
ing us.” 


212 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


Upon their return to the spot where they 
had left their party they found that Major 
James, upon his own account, had also sur- 
prised a party of the enemy and routed them 
without loss of a man. So, with Mr. Foster’s 
wagons rolling along in the midst of them 
they made their way toward the point where 
they were to meet Marion. 


CHAPTER XI 


HOW TOM MET WITH A BLINDFOLD ADVENTURE 

In the fall Marion defeated a large body of 
the enemy at the Black Wingo. News had 
filtered its way into Carolina that General 
Greene had succeeded Gates and was advanc- 
ing with fresh recruits and the remnant of 
the fugitives who survived the fatal battle of 
Camden. Marion was most anxious to show 
Greene and his Continentals that there was a 
spirit in the state, so he became more than 
usually active. 

He recruited his force at Williamsburg and 
was marching to attack Colonel Harrison, who 
was in force upon Lynch’s Creek ; but his 
progress in this direction was suddenly ar- 
rested one afternoon when Tom and Cole 
dashed back from a scout and informed him 
*that there was a large gathering of Tories in 
and about Salem and the fork of the Black 

213 


214 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

River. Colonel Tynes, who commanded this 
force, had brought with him large supplies of 
the materials of war and comfort — things in 
which Marion’s riders stood very much in 
need. Tom drew pictures of new English 
muskets, broadswords, bayonets, pistols, sad- 
dles and bridles, powder and ball, and large 
stores of hard money which Tynes had also 
brought to tempt new levies. 

His men wanted so much for all these 
things that Marion could not resist the boy’s 
eloquence. Harrison, for the time, was for- 
gotten ; and the half-naked brigade was 
headed for Tarcote, in the forks of the Black 
River. Crossing the lower ford of the north- 
ern branch of the river, at Nelson’s planta- 
tion, Marion came upon the camp of Tynes at 
midnight. A hurried survey revealed the 
fact that the Tories had made no preparation 
to ward off an attack. Most of them were 
asleep ; but many were grouped about the 
camp-fires. 

Hastily collecting his men, Marion struck 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 215 

like lightning. The surprise was complete ; 
the panic universal. Marion lost not a single 
man, and gained a great store of clothing, 
arms and ammunition, as Tom had predicted 
he would. 

One after another these victories came ; 
they were small in themselves but they gave 
the patriots courage ; they revived spirits that 
had drooped since the taking of Charleston 
and the burnings and hangings by Tarleton 
and his fierce dragoons. As the leaves yel- 
lowed and fell, and long before the Christmas 
season set in, the cause of liberty once more 
grew bright in Carolina. 

Cornwallis was quick to feel this ; his 
parties were continually under arms ; his 
columns were ever scouring the country for 
the elusive but dangerous foe. But Marion 
had taught his countrymen how to fight their 
powerful enemy ; surprise, ambuscades, night 
marches, rapid retreats — that was the story of 
his work, and it brought the British, as far as 
results were concerned, almost to a standstill. 


2 16 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


On December 30, 1780, Cornwallis, from 
his camp at Winnsborough, wrote to Sir 
Henry Clinton at New York : 

“ Colonel Marion has so wrought upon the 
minds of the people . . . that there is 

scarcely an inhabitant between the Santee and 
Pedee that is not in arms against us. Some 
parties have even crossed the Santee and car- 
ried terror to the gates of Charleston.” 

The daring expedition of which the British 
general wrote was led by Tom Deering. For 
a long time he had been brooding upon the 
words of Mark Harwood spoken that day at 
the Foster mansion. Laura was to be forced 
by Jarvis Harwood to marry Lieutenant 
Cheyne at Christmas. This, together with 
his inability to do anything for his impris- 
oned father weighed heavily upon him ; he 
could not sleep at night, and during the day 
his helplessness to carry relief to those he 
cared most for in the world preyed constantly 
upon him, allowing him no rest. Oh, if he 
could only strike a blow for them ; if he 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 217 

could only liberate his father from the hulks 
in Charleston harbor — for he felt almost sure, 
by this, that it was there he would find him 
— and save Laura from Jasper Harwood, he 
would be happy and content. 

He sat one night upon a cottonwood stump 
at the camp-fire brooding over these things, 
with Cole stretched full length beside him, 
when Marion, who was going the rounds of 
the camp, stopped to look at him. 

“ There is something,” said the commander, 
seating himself beside him on the stump, 
“ that has been upon your mind for some 
weeks past. What is it? ” 

It was not often that Colonel Marion in- 
vited a confidence ; he was as kind and gentle 
a man as could be, but, as a rule, he treated 
his men not too familiarly. So, his question 
proved his interest to Tom at once. 

The lad told him of Laura, and of what 
was to happen at Christmas. Marion listened 
and his dark, deep-set eyes kindled. 

“ The villains,” said he, warmly. “ They 


2 18 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


would make this poor girl the wife of a man 
whom she does not care for, in order to create 
an influence that will enable them to possess 
themselves of your father’s property.” 

He paused for a moment, then turned sud- 
denly upon his young scout. 

“ If I had not the cares and responsi- 
bilities of this command resting upon me,” 
said he, “ I would ask nothing better than to 
beard them under their own guns and take 
this poor child from them.” 

“ Oh, if I could only make the attempt ! ” 
cried Tom. “ I could learn something of my 
father, too, perhaps. If I only had the force, 
I would dare it.” 

“ Would any of your friends in the 
brigade volunteer for the adventure, do you 
think ? ” 

“ A score of them ! ” exclaimed the 
youth. 

“You have my permission to take them 
out on the enterprise,” said Marion, kindly. 
“ It will not only be doing the young lady a 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 219 

service if you succeed, but will demonstrate 
to the enemy that we can penetrate even into 
his most powerful towns.” 

At last Tom had the chance he had so often 
prayed for. Overjoyed, he went to work 
next day sounding his most intimate friends 
in the brigade ; he went to the younger men 
from choice, for it was to these that the bold- 
ness of the proposed attempt would appeal. 
Without the slightest difficulty he secured 
the eager consent of the required number ; 
and all day they prepared for the expedition 
by polishing and cleaning rifles and pistols 
and looking to the edges of sabres. At dusk, 
well-mounted and armed, and with high, 
hopeful hearts they set forth. The brigade 
waved their caps and gave them three silent 
cheers, for Marion had forbidden noise in the 
camp. 

The camp of Marion at this period was in 
the midst of a dense cane-brake in the district 
between Fort Watson and Georgetown; he 
had not as yet settled into his famous base at 


220 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


Snow’s Island, and was conducting his oper- 
ations from many different points. 

The party under Tom Deering forded the 
Santee in safety, and by hard riding and no 
mishaps made Monks Corner, on the west 
bank of the Cooper River, by daybreak the 
next day. Of course they did not enter the 
town, but remained some distance outside, 
encamped upon a small creek. At nightfall 
they resumed their journey ; now and then 
they met a rider or a carriage in the road ; 
but they were too far into the enemy’s country 
for any one to suspect them of being anything 
else than king’s men, so boldly and confidently 
did they push forward. 

The coming of day found them in the 
suburbs of Charleston ; the houses began to 
appear more frequently along the road, and 
when the sun at last showed itself in the 
east they were trotting along a wide road 
toward a small inn which stood, together w T ith 
a stable and some other outbuildings, just a 
trifle to one side. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 221 


“ This is Natchez’s place,” said Tom ; “ we 
stop here.” 

Natchez, it was thought, was an Indian of 
at least quarter blood ; he had kept the inn by 
the roadside for many years, and was a queer, 
silent sort of an old man and an unquestioned 
though secret friend of the patriot cause. 
Marion had, at times, occasion to send a spy 
into Charleston ; and it was always at the 
Indian’s Head — for so the inn was called — 
that the venturesome one found shelter. 

When our friends drew rein before the inn 
door, Natchez, who seemed always to be stir- 
ring, came out. Tom gave him a quick sig- 
nal and the old man peered up at him from 
under his bushy eyebrows, in surprise. 

“ So many of you ! ” he exclaimed, holding 
up his hands. 

“ We must remain here until dark,” said 
Tom. 

“It is not an attack upon the city?” 
asked the old man, eagerly. “ Where is 
Marion ? ” 


222 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


“ Back in the swamps, across the Santee. 
We are upon a secret errand.” 

“ It is dangerous to hide so many,” said 
Natchez, complainingly. “ You will have to 
be satisfied with the barn ; I cannot have you 
in the house.” 

“ The barn will answer very well,” agreed 
Tom. “ But open the doors and let us put 
up our horses ; we have had a hard ride, 
Natchez ; man and beast, both, are hungry 
and tired.” 

The barn was a good-sized one and very 
well able to accommodate their mounts. 
They climbed into the loft, themselves ; there 
were great piles of sweet-smelling hay there, 
and after Natchez and an old negro slave had 
served them with a plentiful breakfast, they 
curled up and slept soundly through the long 
day. 

Late in the afternoon Tom awoke ; the 
others were still sleeping ; so he climbed 
down the ladder, and after giving a careful 
look at the horses to see that they had been 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 223 

well provided for, he made his way to the 
inn. 

“ Well, Natchez,” said he. “ Any news? ” 

“ Maybe,” grunted the old man. He was 
sitting upon a wooden bench that ran along 
in front of the inn, his legs crossed and his 
hands clasped around his knee. 

“ There is something?” Tom looked at 
him, questioningly. 

“ A man was here,” said Natchez. “ I 
think he look for you.” 

“ A man, looking for me ! ” Tom was 
startled, and darted a quick look all about. 
“ You must be mistaken.” 

Natchez shook his head. 

“ No,” said he positively ; “ he look for 
you. He come here once, twice, three times. 
And every time he look for you.” 

Tom sat down upon the bench and looked 
at the old man. There was no one, save his 
own party, who knew that he was at the In- 
dian’s Head — but, stay ; perhaps Marion de- 
sired to convey some word to him, and sus- 


224 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

pecting that he would halt at the inn, had 
sent a rider after him. However, this could 
soon be ascertained. 

“ Did the man have the signal ? ” asked he. 

“ No,” answered Natchez, “ no signal.” 

That put the question at rest ; the man was 
not from Marion. 

“ What sort of a man was he ? ” asked he, 
at length. 

“ Old man — gray hair — one eye — wooden 
leg." 

At this catalogue of infirmities Tom burst 
into a laugh. 

“ Well, he must be a peculiar looking per- 
son, to be sure,” remarked he. “ What did 
he say ? ” 

“ Him have paper,” said Natchez. “ Him 
read it. The paper have you on, sure.” 

Tom was puzzled ; the whole affair seemed 
very queer ; perhaps the British had learned 
— but no ; if they knew of his and his com- 
panions’ presence at the Indian’s Head, they 
would have made the fact known by means 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 225 

of a company of dragoons, and not in this 
way. 

“ He was here three times, you say,” he 
said to Natchez. 

The old man nodded. 

“ And he say he come once more,” said he. 

“ Ah ! ” Tom looked surprised. “ Well, 
in that case I can find out just who and what 
he is and what he wants.” 

After a time Natchez went into the inn to 
attend to some duties ; Tom remained upon 
the bench, playing with a lively pointer pup, 
which had approached him in a friendly man- 
ner. His companions showed no signs of 
having awakened ; the sun was going down 
behind a wooded rise in the ground and the 
long, wide road stretched away toward the 
city dusty and deserted. 

“ If my peculiar looking friend wants me 
he had better hurry,” muttered Tom. “ It’s 
almost time for us to take the road once 
more.” 

He had barely ceased speaking when he 


226 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


noticed, far down the road, where all had 
been deserted a few moments before, the fig- 
ure of a man slowly approaching. 

“ Can this be he? ” Tom pushed the frol- 
icking puppy from him, and looked long and 
earnestly toward the figure. The man came 
nearer and nearer ; his pace was very slow 
and he walked with the assistance of a cane. 
“ Yes I ” suddenly, “ it is he. There is his 
wooden leg — and his hair is gray — and he 
has but one eye ! ” 

The man continued to slowly advance ; 
when he reached a point in the road directly 
in front of the inn, he paused. His remain- 
ing eye seemed very dim of sight, for at first 
he did not seem to see Tom. But when, at 
last, he did make him out, he came nearer 
and peered at him with great anxiety. He 
was a stout man with a fat, flabby, white 
face ; his single eye squinted through a steel- 
rimmed glass ; his breath was being drawn 
fast and with some difficulty, for his walk 
seemed to have exhausted him. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 227 

He was forced, in order to see Tom plainly, 
to come very close ; he said nothing, but only 
looked. Tom sat, silently awaiting the out- 
come of the inspection. At length a look of 
satisfaction spread over the man’s face ; he 
grinned with delight, and a chuckling seemed 
to shake him all over. 

He put his hand into his breast pocket and 
took out a folded paper ; unfolding it with 
great care, he adjusted his glass and proceeded 
to read : 

“ Young man — tall — brown hair — gray eyes 
— not very well dressed,” he lowered the 
paper and fastened the youth on the bench 
with his single eye. “ That’s you, is it not?” 

“ It describes me pretty well,” said Tom. 

“ It describes you exactly,” said the one- 
eyed man with the wooden leg. Then he 
turned his attention to the paper once more. 
“ Will be at the Indian’s Head, just outside 
the city, on the evening of December 23d.” 
He looked up at Tom, once more. “ This is 
the Indian’s Head, is it not ? ” 


228 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


“ It is.” 

“ And this is the evening of Decem- 
ber 23d?” 

“ It is.” 

“ And you are here ? ” 

Tom laughed ; and the one-eyed man 
looked hurriedly at the paper. 

“ It does not say anything about your 
laughing,” he informed Tom, at last, “ but I 
suppose it’s all right. But, let us get down 
to business. Here are,” and he drew out a 
bulky packet, “your instructions.” He 
handed the packet to Tom without more ado, 
and drew out another paper ; this one had an 
official look and bore a large seal. “ And 
here,” went on the man, “ is your permit to 
enter the city and leave it as you will, with- 
out fear and without question, and to have 
what helpers you require bear you company.” 

He handed the permit to Tom; then he 
turned and began stumping away on his 
wooden leg and cane, without another word. 
Tom arose hastily ; the papers were not for 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 229 

him, he was confident of that. He was about 
to call to the man to return ; but the permit — 
the free and unquestioned entry into Charles- 
ton — was too much ; he sank back into his 
seat and watched and watched the wooden- 
legged man until he disappeared down the 
long, dusty road. 

Then he looked at the passport carefully. 
It bore the signature and seal of Cornwallis 
and, as the man had said, permitted the 
bearer to pass in and out of the city at all 
hours and with whatever company rode with 
him. It bore no name other than that of the 
signature, and Tom grew puzzled and dis- 
turbed. 

“ Perhaps,” muttered he, “ it is for me, 
after all. Some one in the city might have 
known of my desire to save Laura, and my 
father and ” 

But the thing was too improbable. It was, 
indeed, impossible. The packet which the 
man had said held instructions lay upon his 
knee ; it was not sealed, the several docu- 


230 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

ments which it contained were merely laid 
loosely together. Tom thought for some time 
over the right and wrong of looking into this 
packet ; it could not have been meant for 
him ; therefore would it be right to exam- 
ine it ? 

It took but a few moments, however, for 
him to decide ; it was perfectly right to gain 
information from the enemy by intercepting 
his despatches ; and these papers might be 
something of that nature. His mind once 
made up he was soon acquainted with the 
secrets that the papers held. They were 
written in a large, flowing hand ; but, just 
like the passport, none of them contained the 
name of the person for whom they were in- 
tended. And, in this case, the name of the 
writer was lacking, also ! Opening the first 
Tom read : 

“ Your venture has become known to us in 
a rather strange way. It is dangerous, but 
may do great good. In any case, you may 
depend upon us to do all that we can for you. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 231 

The passport which I send you will admit 
you into the city. Come to-night, and alone ; 
as the clock strikes ten stand in front of the 
king’s statue near Lord Rawdon’s headquar- 
ters. I will have a person there to conduct 
you to me.” 

The other papers contained names of per- 
sons and references to things that Tom did 
not understand ; but a footnote upon one of 
them read : 

“ These may not seem very clear to you, but 
all will be explained later.” 

For a long time Tom pondered over all 
this. Was it possible, after all, that some one 
had learned of his enterprise and was about to 
help him in the accomplishment of it ? The 
person, whoever it was, must be high in the 
favor of the British ; for such a passport as 
that which he held was not an easy thing to 
secure. 

And then, again, it might be all a ruse ; it 
might be a trap — a snare, set to catch him 
and those who rode with him. In a short 


232 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

time the others were awake and he placed the 
matter before them. To say that they were 
astonished would be putting it mildly. But, 
to a man, they thought it all right. Because, 
they argued, and Tom thought with reason, 
if it were the enemy who sent the papers, 
why did they trouble to do it? A squadron, 
surrounding the barn as they slept, would 
have been a safer and much more simple way 
of capturing them. 

“ If I were you I'd see it out,” said Nat 
Collins, decidedly. 

“ And I ! and I ! ” cried the others. 

Cole was the only one who seemed at all 
dubious ; but as the white youths seemed to 
be so firm in their belief that everything was 
right, he said nothing ; and when Tom told 
him to saddle Sultan he did so without a 
word. 

“ I’ll return some time to-morrow,” said the 
young scout as he settled himself in the sad- 
dle. “ Natchez will take care of you all. 
Don’t expose yourselves to the view of any 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 233 

one coming along the road ; but lay low. 
And now I'm away ! ” He shook the rein. 
“ Good-bye, boys ; good-bye, Cole." 

With this he set off at a sharp gallop to- 
ward the city. Darkness had come on some 
time before, but the road was excellent and 
he had no fear of accidents. As he drew 
close to the town a sentry halted him. But 
the passport of the Earl of Cornwallis met 
with an instant salute and he was allowed to 
proceed. This occurred several times ; but 
always with the same result. And, at last, 
he rode into the city’s streets at about the 
hour of nine. It had been many long 
months since he had last been in Charleston ; 
everything remained the same, however, ex- 
cept for the flaunting of the British flag which 
hung from every flagstaff, and the many red- 
coats to be seen on the streets, swaggering 
dragoons and stalwart grenadiers, who seemed 
to look with contempt upon the townsfolk, 
loyalist and patriot alike. 

Tom put Sultan up at a neighboring hos- 


234 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

telry, and then wandered about the city to 
pass the time between that and the hour at 
which he was to meet the guide who was to 
lead him to the person who had sent the 
papers. He had his sabre strapped to his side 
and carried a heavy pistol in his breast ; peo- 
ple would frequently stop and look after him 
as he passed, his hunting shirt, worn leather 
leggings and the rest of his attire attracting 
their attention. Quite often a dragoon, or 
foot soldier would pause and stare into his 
face rudely as though they had seen his like 
before and had their suspicions of him ; but 
his steady eyes and confident bearing drove 
from their minds any intention they may 
have had of stopping him. 

As ten o’clock struck in the tower of a 
near-by church, he stopped before the statue 
of King George, near the governor’s head- 
quarters. At the same instant a man came 
out of a shadow immediately across the way 
and approached him. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 235 

“Are you awaiting any one ?” asked the 
newcomer. 

“ I am/’ said Tom. 

“ For me?” inquiringly. 

“ Perhaps so.” 

“ What word do you bring ? ” 

“ I bring no word.” 

The man looked at him for a moment, 
sharply. 

“ That is very strange,” said he. 

Tom drew out the message making the 
queer appointment. 

“ Will this do ? ” he asked. 

The man gave it a quick glance and looked 
relieved. 

“ Ah ! ” said he, “ why did you not show it 
at first? ” 

“You asked for a word.” 

“ True, I did. But it is all right. Are 
you,” looking at the lad suddenly, “prepared 
to follow me?” 

“ I am.” 

“ Good. Where is your horse ? ” 


236 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

Tom informed him. 

“ As it happens,” said the man, “ my mount 
is at the same place.” 

As they bent their steps toward the inn 
where Sultan had been put up, Tom looked 
at his companion carefully. He was a very 
tall and very spare man, but his shoulders 
were wide and his chest deep. He was at- 
tired in sober black ; his hair was dark, his 
complexion swarthy, and an angry looking 
scar crossed his right cheek. Thinking it as 
well to secure what information he could 
from the guide Tom asked, 

“ Where are you about to take me ? ” 

“ I am not,” answered the man, “ permitted 
to give information of any kind.” 

“ But,” protested the youth, “ the person 
who wrote this paper must at least ” 

“ We will not speak of any person or per- 
sons, if you please,” put in the man, curtly. 
“ My instructions were to conduct you to a 
certain spot. What else is going forward is 
not my affair ; I can say nothing.” 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 237 

Surprised at this, and rather startled at the 
increased mystery, Tom stepped along at the 
man’s side in silence, until they reached the 
hostelry where the horses were. A groom 
saddled them quickly and brought them out ; 
the man who was to act as guide for Tom at 
once sprang upon the fine gray horse which 
was led up to the block. Tom mounted Sultan 
slowly ; the groom seemed to know the dark 
man with the scar ; this interested our young 
swamp-rider, and he would have given a good 
deal for a quiet word before they rode away. 

But this was impossible ; the guide never 
took his sharp eyes from the youth ; he 
seemed to be expecting some such attempt ; 
and of course while he watched, Tom could 
not make it. They set off through the city 
by much the same route as Tom had entered 
it. When they reached a quiet spot the man 
with the scar pulled up. 

“ Young, sir,” said he gravely; “if I am 
not mistaken this errand means much to you 
and — and — well, others.” 


238 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

“ It does,” answered Tom, his mind revert- 
ing to Laura. 

“ You would risk much to carry it through, 
would you not? ” 

“ I am risking much as it is,” answered 
Tom, quietly. 

“ True ; so you are. But there is one thing 
of which I wish to inform you before we 
proceed further. He who follows me to-night, 
must follow blindfolded ! ” 

Tom flashed him a quick look ; for a mo- 
ment the proposition staggered him. Had 
he come too far? was he about to enter a 
snare, or could it be that he was already in 
one ! The dark man noticed his hesitation 
and a smile glimmered across his hawk-like 
face. 

“You are not afraid ? ” asked he ; and 
there was something like a sneer lurking in 
his even tones. 

“ Not I,” said Tom, proudly. “ I am here 
for a purpose ; if it is necessary for me to be 
blindfolded to carry it through, then blind- 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 239 

folded I will be. I have faced sterner things 
than darkness and a single man, sir, many 
times.” 

The scarred-faced man laughed. 

“ They told me that you were not lacking 
in courage,” said he ; “ and I find that they 
were right. But come/’ he took a large black 
kerchief from his pocket, “ we have no time 
to lose.” 

He urged his big gray horse alongside 
Sultan ; in a moment the black kerchief was 
tightly tied about Tom’s eyes ; the lad could 
not see anything — all was dark — black — un- 
known ! 

“ I will ride slightly ahead,” said the man 
quietly when his task was done. “ Give your 
horse a free rein ; he will follow mine, and 
in that way you need have no fear of his 
carrying you into danger.” 

Tom said nothing in reply ; he was not 
quite as sure of this as the guide seemed to 
think he should be. It was a strange ex- 
perience to be riding through the enemy’s 


240 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

country, under the guidance of a stranger 
and upon an errand whose every element 
breathed mystery ; he did not know at what 
moment a quick, deadly blow might fall upon 
him ; his hand rested upon the butt of his 
pistol, ready to draw it forth at a moment’s 
notice ; his ears were constantly strained to 
catch the slightest sound that might portend 
danger. 

They rode for a long time, then suddenly 
turned off the road, and headed across a plan- 
tation which lay to the left. They continued 
across this for some time, then turned off an- 
other road, and this time to the right. Within 
the next half hour they turned and twisted 
in many directions ; Tom realized that the 
purpose was to confuse him ; the place where 
he was to meet the writer of the strange mes- 
sage was to remain a mystery, it was consid- 
ered necessary to prevent his knowing the 
way there did he ever desire to repeat the 
visit. 

At last the hoofs began to ring upon harder 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 241 

ground ; the guide drew up, and from the 
creaking sound, Tom knew that he was open- 
ing a gate. He was cool and collected, but he 
could not help his breath coming a little 
quicker; he was almost at the end of the 
adventure ; in a few moments he would know 
all. They rode inside and the gate closed 
behind them. Tom heard some low, guarded 
words addressed to his companion, but could 
not catch their meaning. Then came the 
quick command : 

“ Dismount ! ” 

He slid to the ground and stood leaning 
against Sultan’s shoulder, unable to take a 
step in safety because of the blinding ker- 
chief. A hand was placed upon his shoulder, 
and a new voice, rather less brusque than that 
of the man with the scar on his face, said : 

“ Now, my friend, I am going to lead you 
to the person you desire to see. Under no 
circumstances attempt to remove the bandage 
from your eyes until told ; this affair is a 
most dangerous one, and the utmost secrecy 


24 2 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

must be maintained. You understand that, 
of course.” 

“ Yes,” said Tom. Of course, he thought, 
it would not do for the writer of the message 
to be suspected of having assisted him, a 
member of Marion’s Brigade, into the city. 
That was, then, the reason for all this secrecy. 

He was led quickly up a flight of stone 
steps ; a heavy door opened and closed behind 
him. They then passed down a long corri- 
dor, and entered a room where, as Tom could 
perceive even through the thick bandage, 
there were a great many brilliant lights. 

“ Now,” said the person who had conducted 
him, “ I am going to leave you here. Wait 
the space of a full minute ; then you may re- 
move the bandage.” 

Tom heard his footstep cross the floor and 
the door softly close behind him. All was 
then silent ; his ears were straining to catch 
any sound that would indicate the presence 
of any one else in the apartment ; he longed 
to tear the blinding kerchief from his eyes. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 243 

He could hear a great, solemn clock in the 
room slowly ticking off the seconds, each of 
which seemed an age ; but, at last, unable any 
longer to bear the suspense, he pulled the 
bandage away with a sudden jerk, and glared 
about him. 

Many candles were burning upon tables, 
stands and in brackets on the wall. As he 
gazed at his surroundings a strange sense of 
familiarity came to him ; the furnishings, the 
shape of the room, the position of the win- 
dows and doors, the pictures upon the walls. 

“ There can be no mistake,” he whispered to 
himself, a strange chill creeping over him. 
“ I am standing in my father’s house.” 

Wonder possessed him ; the thing was 
strange beyond his dreams of strangeness ; 
he could, try as he would, make nothing of 
it. Then footsteps sounded — heavy, com- 
manding footsteps that approached the door 
leading into the room from the main hall. 
Tom stood in the middle of the apartment 
bathed in the full glare of the lighted candles, 


244 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

waiting ; the door opened and two British 
officers entered, each big, red-faced and im- 
perious-looking, and each bearing upon the 
breast of his scarlet coat many glittering 
orders and decorations. 

They were Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton and 
the Earl of Cornwallis ! 


CHAPTER XII 


HOW TOM TOOK PART IN A MYSTERIOUS 
CONSULTATION 

For a moment Tom Deering was rendered 
powerless by the sudden shock of the sur- 
prise ; he stood staring at the two British 
officers with wide-open eyes. Then a feeling 
of helplessness swept over him — a sense of 
being caught — of having been lured into the 
clutches of his foes. He could not speak ; at 
each tick of the clock he expected to hear 
them denounce him. 

But they did not; they bowed to him si- 
lently and advanced to the table at the centre 
of the room and sat down ; Tarleton was 
looking straight at him, but gave not the 
slightest sign of having recognized him ; 
Cornwallis had taken up a quill from the 
table, and was tapping with it upon the table, 
a flickering smile upon his face. 

245 


246 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

“ You seemed rather disturbed,” said he. 

With a powerful effort Tom pulled himself 
together ; he was caught, but there was no 
use in his showing the white feather, he 
thought. So he replied, quietly enough : 

“ I must confess to being slightly surprised, 
sir. But that is all.” 

Cornwallis’s smile broadened. 

“ Just so,” chuckled he. “ You did not ex- 
pect to meet two British officers, I sup- 
pose.” 

“ I had no idea whom I was to meet,” said 
the young swamp-rider. 

“ Of course not ; how could you ? ” 

Cornwallis tapped the table with the point 
of the quill, thoughtfully ; now and then his 
eyes would wander from Tom’s face to that 
of Tarleton ; he seemed to be considering 
something very carefully. 

“ I had thought,” said he at last, “ to meet 
a very different person.” 

“ A rather older person, to be sure,” said 
Tarleton. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 247 

Tom bent his head slightly, but said 
nothing. 

“ Of course,” said the commander of the 
British army, “ you do not know either of us 
— no more than we know you. It is better 
so ; the work that you are about to do is of 
exceeding peril, and the less we know of each 
other, the better.” 

Tom looked at the speaker in astonishment. 
However, he did not allow the feeling to show 
in his face ; they were playing with him, he 
fancied ; and he suddenly resolved that he 
would bear his part in it, and prove that he 
was not afraid. 

“ I had thought,” said he coolly, after a 
moment’s silence, “ that I had met this gen- 
tleman,” nodding toward Tarleton, “ before.” 

“ You have just come to Charleston, from 
Canada,” said Tarleton. “ How could you? ” 

The expression upon the man’s face as he 
said this, puzzled Tom ; he seemed to be sin- 
cere ; he seemed to mean it ; and not the 
slightest recollection of having met Tom in a 


248 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

hand to hand conflict that day in the swamps 
was observable in his countenance. What 
could it all mean ? The lad began to doubt 
the evidence of his own senses. 

“ How,” asked Lord Cornwallis, “ is Sir 
Henry ? ” 

“ Sir Henry ? ” Tom looked at him dully. 

“ Of course, Sir Henry Clinton.” 

Tom recovered, with a slight gasp. 

“ Oh,” said he, “ he was quite well when 
last I heard of him.” 

“ Then,” said Cornwallis, “ he does not 
write to you very often.” 

“ No,” confessed the lad, “ he does not.” 

“ I had thought that he would neglect it 
after a time. He has a short memory at best. 
However, since you have arrived here safely 
it does not matter.” 

“ You received the list of names which we 
sent you ? ” inquired Tarleton. 

“ I did,” answered Tom, his mind going at 
once to the papers which he had received, but 
had not understood. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 249 

“ You did not get much information from 
them, of course/’ put in Cornwallis, with a 
laugh. “ But that was not to be expected ; 
you must become acquainted with the section 
first.” 

The truth was slowly dawning upon the 
young scout ; these men were not playing 
with him as he had supposed. They were 
serious ; they had mistaken him for another 
— for a person whom they had never seen, 
and who was due in Charleston, upon some 
mysterious errand, at that time. 

“ This department of yours,” said Tarleton 
after a longer pause than usual, “ is some- 
thing new, is it not? I have heard that 
Chatham was strongly opposed to it, but that 
the king ” 

“ Hush ! ” Cornwallis laid his hand warn- 
ingly upon the other’s arm. “ That is a thing 
not to be spoken of.” 

“ Oh ! ” exclaimed Tarleton, impatiently, 
“ among friends ” 

“ Even among friends,” said Cornwallis, 


250 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

“ silence must be kept.” He turned to Tom. 
“ Is this not so? ” 

“ I believe,” answered Tom slowly, for he 
feared to betray himself, “ that the utmost 
secrecy is considered necessary.” 

“ Exactly.” Cornwallis looked trium- 
phantly at the other officer. “ Just what I 
have always held since the matter was first 
brought to my attention. To hope to do any- 
thing by such means, one must work in the 
dark, so to speak — one must not allow even 
a whisper to reach the upper world, if success 
is to be hoped for.” 

“ Quite right,” and Tom bowed, more mys- 
tified than ever, but determined to carry out 
the matter to the end. 

“ And now,” said Cornwallis, “ I suppose 
you will wish to see the gentleman who is to 
give you the information which you seek.” 

“ If you please.” The youth said this not 
without some misgiving ; but he dreaded to 
refuse, as it might excite some suspicion. 

“ Ah,” said Cornwallis, apparently greatly 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 251 

pleased. “ I had fancied that you’d not want 
to see him until later. But I had him come 
here to-night on the chance ; I am delighted 
that you show a willingness to take the mat- 
ter up so promptly.” 

Tom was rather angry with himself for this 
same willingness ; but it was too late now ; so 
Cornwallis rang a bell to summon the person 
spoken of. 

“ He is waiting in the next room,” said he, 
“ and I rather think you will find him the 
kind of man you want.” 

Here the door opened and Lieutenant 
Cheyne of Tarleton’s horse entered. He 
looked at Tom sharply for a moment as he 
crossed to the table at which the others were 
sitting. But it had been four long years 
since the affair of the mansion of Jasper Har- 
wood, and Tom had greatly changed and 
grown since then ; so he bore himself with 
boldness and confidence and looked straight 
into Cheyne’s eye without a quaver. The 
lieutenant, however, was only marveling at 


252 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

the youth of the visitor who had come there 
wrapped about in so much mystery ; no 
thought of ever having met him before had 
crossed his mind. 

“ This gentleman,” said Cornwallis, “ will 
introduce you wherever you wish, in Charles- 
ton.” 

The lieutenant bowed. 

“ I shall be most happy,” said he. 

“ As to the towns and cities further north,” 
proceeded Cornwallis, “ we have provided an- 
other person for that. I will summon him, 
also.” 

His hand was already upon the bell, but 
Tom stopped him. 

“ One moment,” said he. “ The name of 
this person, if you please.” 

The other three looked at him in surprise. 

“ I had thought that no names were to be 
mentioned at this stage of the proceedings.” 

Tom saw that he had gone a little too far ; 
but he feared possible recognition, and it 
might chance that the man whom the British 



'PHIS GENTLEMAN SAID CORNWALLIS, 
1 “ WILL INTRODUCE YOU” 







FIGHTING KING GEORGE 253 

commander was about to call in, would know 
him ; so he continued, boldly : 

“ Safety is the first thing to be looked after. 
I must demand the name of this person, be- 
fore you admit him.” 

“ Surely you can suspect no one in Charles- 
ton,” said Cornwallis in surprise. 

Tom determined upon a shrewd stroke. 

“ If none were suspected,” said he, “ I 
should not be here.” 

The words struck home ; the three British 
officers looked at each other. 

“True,” said Cornwallis, soberly. “That 
fact escaped me for the moment. The gentle- 
man who is waiting without is Mr. Clarage, a 
loyal subject of the king.” 

Without knowing it the young swamp- 
rider had been standing upon the brink of 
discovery ; for had Clarage once entered the 
room he would have been sure to have 
recognized him. The look upon Tom’s face 
was observed by Tarleton, and miscon- 
strued. 


2J4 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

“ Surely/’ said he, “ you do not mean to 
say that you refuse Clarage’s aid ! ” 

“ I do/’ said the youth, promptly. 

“ You suspect him ! ” Cornwallis uttered 
the words in tones of the utmost astonish- 
ment. “ Why, I did not dream that you ever 
had heard his name before.” 

“ I have heard of the gentleman many 
times,” said Tom, gravely. 

Once more the three officers stared at one 
another, this time apparently astounded. 

“ I had not imagined,” said Lieutenant- 
Colonel Tarleton, “ that the ramifications of 
the new system were so extensive.” 

There was a certain note of respect in his 
voice that did not escape Tom ; he had made 
an impression by his boldness. 

“ There are many things connected with 
this business,” said the youth, “ that I don’t 
understand myself.” 

“ I suppose not — I suppose not.” There 
was awe in the voice of Cornwallis as he said 
this ; and Tom could scarcely keep from 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 255 

laughing. He was determined to escape the 
notice of Clarage, so he continued, 

“ This man Clarage must not be permitted 
to observe me — he must not see me — he must 
not know who I am.” 

“ Is it possible that he is suspected as 
strongly as all that ! ” 

“ He is not a king’s officer,” said Tom, 
“ and in these times it behooves us to 
suspect every one not actually in the uni- 
form.” 

“ Right,” cried Tarleton. “ Right, sir ! 
Allow me to shake you by the hand.” He 
grasped Tom’s hand as he spoke, and shook 
it warmly. “ When I first clapped eyes upon 
you I could not understand why a boy had 
been sent about this important business ; but 
I see it now ; it’s because you have brains and 
know how to use them.” He continued to 
shake Tom’s hand violently. “ I beg your 
pardon, sir, for my first impression of you ; 
but I see my mistake, and am willing to 
acknowledge it. You are right. Every one 


256 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

in Carolina should be suspected except those 
who wear the king’s uniform.” 

Then the two senior officers talked long 
and earnestly about matters of which Tom 
had not the slightest knowledge ; but, seeing 
that he was supposed to be well informed as 
to most of it, he kept nodding his head or 
shaking it, as the case might be, and wore 
a look of great gravity. He gradually drew 
from their talk that he was supposed to be a 
messenger, sent by the very highest officials 
of the government at London, to collect facts 
of some kind. But just what the facts were, 
and why so much caution was considered 
necessary in their collecting, he could not 
learn. At length Cornwallis said : 

“ There is to be an affair to-morrow even- 
ing at which you could meet a very great 
many people, if you choose to attend.” 

Tom trembled with expectation ; but his 
voice was steady enough, as he asked : 

“ Indeed ; and what is that? ” 

“ Lieutenant Cheyne’s wedding ; it is Christ- 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 257 

mas eve and he is to marry the ward 
of Jasper Harwood, a most excellent gentle- 
man and a strong advocate of the king’s gov- 
ernment.” 

“ I shall be most happy to have you come/’ 
said Cheyne, bowing. 

“ I’ll be glad to,” said Tom, returning the 
bow, and struggling to hide his eagerness. 

“ There is to be a sort of Christmas fete at 
the same time,” remarked Lieutenant Cheyne. 
“ A mask, you know ; it’s a thing that the 
people here do about Christmas time, you 
see.” 

“ Ah, yes ! A mask.” Tom looked thought- 
ful. “ But, my dear sir, I think this will 
prevent my attending. I have no costume.” 

“ No costume,” broke in Tarleton, with a 
loud laugh. “ What is the matter with the 
disguise you are wearing now ? ” 

“ Ah, true,” said the youth, coolly. “ Quite 
so.” 

“ I’ve had my eye upon it for some time,” 
said Tarleton. “ It’s much the same sort of 


258 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

thing as that scamp Marion and his fellows 
wear. But I suppose you adopted it because 
you had to pass through the region which 
that villain infests.” 

“ I did pass through Marion’s district — 
yes,” said the youth, evenly. 

“ It will do nicely,” said Cheyne. “ Indeed 
I could imagine nothing better for such an 
occasion.” 

“ Very well, then,” said Tom. “ It is set- 
tled.” 

“ I shall be glad to send for you,” remarked 
Cheyne. 

Tom considered for a moment. His 
thoughts were working upon a plan that had 
just flashed into his mind ; and then he re- 
plied : 

“ No ; upon consideration it would be best 
that I go alone. Where is the wedding to 
take place, sir ? ” 

“ Here,” said Cornwallis. “ You came to 
this plantation blindfolded ; you could not 
find your way here again, alone.” 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 259 

“ I shall leave the place with my eyes 
open,” said Tom, “ and shall note its location 
as I ride toward the town. And now,” after 
a short pause, “ if we have quite finished, I 
shall be on my way.” 

“We have said all that we can say, for the 
present,” said Cornwallis. 

“ Then,” said the young swamp-rider, as he 
bowed with dignity to the three British of- 
ficers, “ I will bid you good-night, gentle- 
men, and trust that we shall meet soon 
again.” 

Sultan was at the door. Tom sprang upon 
his back and shook the rein. Then he waved 
his hand to the officers on the steps, for they 
had followed him with considerable ceremony 
through the hall ; in a moment he was dash- 
ing along the well-remembered road leading 
from his father’s plantation. He followed the 
track toward the city for some time ; then 
drew rein and listened. There was no sound 
on the road behind, no evidence that he was 
being followed. Assuring himself of this, he 


260 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

wheeled Sultan into a narrow road lead- 
ing northwest, and went dashing light- 
heartedly to meet his comrades at the 
Indian’s Head. 


CHAPTER XIII 


HOW THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENED ON CHRIST- 
MAS EVE 

At Christmas time, in the year 1780, the 
British had no very great occasion for rejoic- 
ing, so far as their affairs of government were 
concerned, at least. They were at war with 
three European nations — France, Holland 
and Spain ; their colonies in North America 
were waging a desperate war for independence 
that seemed as though it would never end, 
and their attempt to gain possession of West 
Point, on the Hudson, through the treachery 
of the infamous Benedict Arnold, had just 
failed. 

However, the army under Cornwallis, or at 
least the officers, did not seem to take their 
country’s misfortunes very much to heart. 
The winter season was long remembered for 
its many gaieties ; the loyalists of the town 
261 


262 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


had thrown open their houses and vied with 
each other as to who could do the most for 
the king’s scarlet-coated dandies. And among 
them all not one entertained upon the scale 
of Jasper Harwood ; he seemed determined to 
prove his loyalty to the crown by his lavish 
expenditures ; but in reality, as the reader 
knows, he had another reason. 

The Harwood place was a large one. Hun- 
dreds of acres of land were planted with cot- 
ton and tobacco ; scores of slaves toiled upon 
the plantation to enrich their master ; his 
mules, oxen and horses were very many. 
Then, too, he had the Deering place under 
cultivation ; the slaves upon it already ad- 
dressed him as master ; the revenues that 
came in he appropriated to his own use, 
which little piece of knavery the authorities 
overlooked in so good a citizen. 

His plan to marry his ward Laura to Lieu- 
tenant Cheyne, of Tarleton’s regiment of horse, 
had long been in his mind ; but now he was 
to carry it into effect. All preparations had 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 263 

been made ; the Deering mansion, which Har- 
wood now occupied, it being nearer to the 
city than his own, was brilliantly lighted ; 
the grounds, for the South Carolina Decem- 
ber is not severe, were also brightly illumi- 
nated, and were thronged by large crowds of 
guests, all en masque, laughing, chattering 
and getting all the enjoyment out of the situ- 
ation possible. 

The sounds of music, softly played, came 
from the mansion ; splendidly attired officers 
and gorgeously dressed maskers now and then 
passed the windows or thronged down the 
steps. Here and there was gathered a knot 
of the young blades of the army, both foot 
and horse, masked, but wearing their uni- 
forms. They talked and laughed loudly ; the 
campaign was largely the subject of their con- 
versation, and they recounted their personal 
deeds vaingloriously. 

“ If the louts would only stand and fight,” 
said one youthful, but strapping dragoon. 
“ How is a fellow to do anything satisfactory 


264 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

when the beggars do nothing but dart in and 
out among the swamps like a lot of gnats.” 

“ You are right,” said another ; “ it is quite 
disappointing when one has a body of them 
almost in one’s hand, and then, in a moment 
— presto, they are gone.” 

“ And this rascal Marion is the most elusive 
of the lot,” said the first speaker. “ He posi- 
tively will not stand up and fight fairly. It’s 
most distressing, when one is going at the 
head of a party, along a dark path through 
the swamps, to have this fellow, the Swamp- 
Fox, as Tarleton has named him, suddenly 
spring out from ambush and pour a fire into 
one.” 

A laugh greeted this complaint; it was 
well known to all that the speaker had suf- 
fered in this way not long before. 

“ Campbell must have been asleep in his 
saddle that night,” remarked one. 

“ Then all whom the Swamp- Fox has sur- 
prised have been dozing,” flared Campbell. 

“ It’s not exactly because of the surprise,” 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 265 

said the other, “ but what you saw after- 
ward. n 

“ What do you mean ? ” 

“ Well, if what you told me you saw in the 
fight were not the visions of a dream, I’ll 
give up.” 

“ Oh, you mean the black ! ” exclaimed the 
stalwart young dragoon. “ But he was no 
vision ; he was a stern reality, as some of my 
fellows have cause to remember.” 

“ Tell us about it, Campbell,” said another. 
“ Prove to us that you were not slumbering 
upon the occasion spoken of.” 

“ It’s not much of a story,” said Campbell, 
“ it only shows how startled a man can be by 
something out of the ordinary when it comes 
upon him suddenly. 

“ You see, awhile back, Tarleton sent me 
out with thirty men across the Santee to des- 
troy some stores that the rebels had been ac- 
cumulating on an island in one of the 
swamps. I had crossed the river and, as it 
was coming on night, was looking for a dry 


266 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


spot to encamp. Suddenly, without a mo- 
ment’s warning the air was filled with the 
crash of rifle and pistol-shots and the most 
infernal yelling that I have ever listened to. 
Then out from behind bush, thicket, trees and 
everything else that could possibly hide a 
man, poured the rascally band of this rebel, 
Marion.” 

“ Nothing extraordinary in that, that I can 
see,” said the young officer who had asked 
for the story. “ As you have just said your- 
self a moment ago, it’s a favorite device of the 
Swamp-Fox.” 

“Just a moment,” said Campbell, with a 
wave of the hand. “ I have not yet reached 
the point of my narrative. When the am- 
buscade broke cover there rushed upon me a 
giant negro. He looked,” and the young 
dragoon gazed about him, “ he looked about 
the thickness of that big cottonwood ; I am 
tall, but he simply towered above me as 
though I were a dwarf.” 

“ Campbell’s eyes were magnifying that 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 267 

night,” cried one, amid a burst of laughter 
from his companions. “ He saw giants — 
possibly it was the genius of the swamp.” 

“ You may laugh,” protested Campbell, 
“ that is what Blake did when I first told 
him. But it's a fact, I tell you. When he 
rushed at me it would have gone hard with 
me had it not been for Sergeant Humphries, 
who took the first sweep of the black’s sabre 
upon his own. Humphries is no boy in 
weight, but, gentlemen, the force of the blow 
almost knocked him from the saddle.” 

While Campbell was speaking, Mark Har- 
wood, who formed one of the party, had been 
listening eagerly. Now he spoke. 

“ Did you notice,” he asked of Campbell, 
“ a companion with this giant negro ? ” 

“ Well, Mr. Harwood,” laughed the strap- 
ping young dragoon, “ he had a great many 
companions. We went flying, helter-skelter, 
through the swamp, with the whole lot of them 
hot at our heels.” 

“ But, I mean, was there not a person — a 


268 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


young man of about my age, but more of your 
size — whom the negro stuck to a great deal ? ” 

Campbell looked thoughtfully at the 
speaker for a moment, then said : 

“ Come to think of it, there was. It seemed 
a great deal like master and man.” 

“ And that,” cried Mark Harwood, “ was 
exactly what they were. The white youth 
was my rebel cousin, Tom Deering.” 

“ Your cousin,” said Campbell, surprised. 
“ Well, if that is so, you have for a cousin 
one of the most remarkable masters of the 
sabre that it has ever been my lot to see. 
Gentlemen,” turning to the others, “ the way 
that lad handled his weapon. It was mar- 
velous. The blade seemed to be a thing of 
life ! ” 

The young officers forming the group 
seemed disposed to laugh at this also ; for 
Ensign Campbell's experiences upon the night 
in question had long formed a subject for 
the exercise of wit. But Mark Harwood 
spoke again. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 269 

“ I haven’t the slightest desire to praise 
Tom Deering, gentlemen,” said he, bitterly, 
“ but what Campbell says is so. This rebel is 
a most remarkable swordsman. It was he, in 
the end assisted by this same giant slave, who 
kept the staircase against a party of loyalist 
gentlemen some time since.” 

An immediate hush fell upon the group ; 
they had heard of this exploit and had mar- 
veled at it. Maskers in various splendid or 
grotesque costumes strolled about the grounds 
chattering and laughing at the antics of those 
who had most given themselves up to the 
spirit of the occasion. About the time Camp- 
bell began to tell his story of the black 
giant, a masker, attired as a Carolinian back- 
woodsman, had paused near them and, as he 
listened, stood leaning against a tree. He 
wore a black mask upon the upper part of his 
face ; a heavy sabre was hanging at his side, 
and he carried a rifle in his hands. His 
dress was an unusual one, and hardly the 
thing to be chosen in Charleston at that time ; 


270 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

for it was of the kind worn by those who 
were in arms against the king. 

Nevertheless, to the slight surprise of a 
great many who noted the fact, there seemed 
to be men in much the same costume, and all 
wearing black masks, scattered about the 
grounds. They did not seem to mingle with 
any of the other merrymakers, neither did 
they seem to be acquainted with one another. 

The woodsman who stood near to the 
spot where the British officers were gathered 
seemed desirous of attracting no attention ; he 
stood very quietly, listening, but never once 
venturing to speak. 

“ Ah, yes,” spoke the man whom Campbell 
had addressed as Blake, “ we have heard of 
that little affair of the staircase. It took 
place at the Foster plantation, did it not ? ” 

“ Yes,” replied Mark Harwood. “ A nest 
? of traitors to the king which I had long 
striven to break up.” 

“ The family consisted of one half-grown 
girl and her father, who was an invalid,” said 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 271 

Ensign Campbell, quietly. “ Not a very des- 
perate gathering of partisans, one would think.” 

This was greeted by a slight laugh. Cold 
looks were directed at Mark ; the Tories were 
little liked by the British soldiery ; they felt 
that contempt for them which is bound to 
arise in the breasts of brave men against those 
who prove false to their own kind. And 
among all the loyalists in Charleston Mark 
Harwood was liked the least ; his sly, cun- 
ning manner and his mirthless smile made 
him hated among the frank young soldiers 
of the king’s forces ; they avoided his com- 
pany as much as possible, but, of course, to- 
night they could not but tolerate him. 

Mark felt the sting which the quiet words 
of young Campbell contained and a dark 
flush stained his cheeks. 

“ It is the weakest who are ever the worst,” 
cried he, noticing the cold glances of dislike 
leveled at him. “ A man like Foster could 
do as much harm to the cause of the king as 
Marion himself.” 


272 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

“ Perhaps so,” said Blake, bitingly. “ But 
there is much more credit in matching one-self 
against Marion ; he, at least, can fight back.” 

Mark bit his lip savagely at this ; he felt 
the hostility which some of his actions had 
awakened, now and then ; but he could never 
be made to see the shame of them. His was 
a mind which recognized no law of right or 
wrong or fairness where a foe was concerned. 
It did not matter much to him who or what 
the foe was, he would set about crushing him 
as completely as possible ; if he were weak it 
made Harwood all the more resolved, for, as 
Lieutenant Blake had insinuated, a weak foe 
could not fight back, and hard fighting was a 
thing which Master Mark had not much 
stomach for. 

“ I have frequently noticed, Harwood,” said 
Ensign Campbell, “that you always select 
some such object as Foster for your attacks, 
when you are left to your own devices.” 

Mark turned upon the young dragoon with 
a snarl. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 273 

“ You have a reputation, I believe, Camp- 
bell, n said he, “ for frequently noticing non- 
existent things.” 

“ You mean by that, I suppose,’ 7 said the 
other, composedly, but with a warning sparkle 
in his eye, “ that I am given to stating what 
is not true. 77 

Mark caught the look in the dragoon’s eyes ; 
at any other time it would have frightened 
him ; but now he was filled with the reckless- 
ness of rage. 

“ And another thing, 77 said he viciously, 
“ y°u yourself admit that you fled before the 
sword of Tom Deering that night in the 
swamp ; and yet you, almost in so many 
words, accuse me of cowardice — I who faced 
him that day at Foster’s.” 

“ You faced him ! 77 

“ Yes — I ! 77 Mark’s face was livid with 
passion ; he knew that these men held his 
personal courage in contempt, and he had a 
sort of mad desire to convince them that he 
was equal to themselves in that respect. 


274 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

“ Fannin and Clarage will support me in 
this,” he continued, knowing that he could 
depend upon the support of these worthies in 
anything. 

“ Well,” said Campbell, in a changed tone, 
“ if you successfully faced this wonderful 
swordsman I beg your pardon, for anything 
that I may have said or hinted at.” 

“ He did not hold his ground long when I 
sprang up the steps, I assure you,” cried 
Mark, delighted at the impression which he 
had created. He at once plunged into a 
glowing account of what had occurred — col- 
ored to suit himself, of course ; but he had 
not spoken a dozen words when a hand was 
laid on his shoulder, and turning he found 
himself gazing into a pair of clear gray eyes 
which looked at him from out the holes of a 
black mask. 

“ I beg your pardon,” said Tom Deering, 
quietly, for the masker was he, “ but will you 
kindly repeat what you have said.” 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 275 

Mark shook himself free of the clutch upon 
his shoulder and returned, angrily : 

“ Who are you, sir ? I do not know you. 
I am speaking to these gentlemen, and am 
not addressing you.” 

“ Once more I beg your pardon.” Tom’s 
voice was still quiet. “But your statement 
to these gentlemen,” bowing to the young of- 
ficers, “ was what made me interrupt you. I 
know something of the affair at Foster’s, and 
would like to correct what you have mis- 
stated.” 

Mark trembled with mingled rage and ap- 
prehension. 

“ Hello,” said Campbell, in a low voice to 
Blake, “ our friend here seems able to put a 
spoke in Harwood’s wheel. This is most in- 
teresting.” 

“ Who are you?” said Mark, once more. 

“ Who I am does not matter,” said Tom. 
“ Gentlemen,” he now ignored Mark, “ I have 
met some of those who bore Mr. Harwood 
company upon that day, and ” 


276 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

“ And they told you the facts of the case,” 
cried Lieutenant Blake, anxious to see Mark 
humiliated. “ Come, out with it ; let us hear 
what you have to say.” 

“I have merely this to say. Mark Harwood 
did not once have the manhood to place him- 
self within the reach of his cousin’s sabre. 
He spent his time upon the outskirts of the 
throng, and his part in the affray consisted 
entirely of shouting directions to braver men 
than himself.” 

A score of cold, contemptuous eyes turned 
themselves upon Mark ; the scorn they felt 
for him was unmistakable. Mark, quivering 
with passion, turned upon Tom, his hand raised 
to strike — but the next instant he was meas- 
uring his length upon the ground, and Tom 
had vanished amidst the quickly gathering 
crowd. 

The rooms of the Deering mansion were 
large ones, but the brilliant gathering to-night 
completely filled them. It was a strange feel- 
ing for the young swamp-rider, a half hour or 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 277 

so after his experience with Mark, to stand a 
stranger — unknown — in his own home. 

The crowd had begun to press into the 
house, for the hour had arrived when Laura 
was to be made the unwilling wife of Lieu- 
tenant Cheyne. Tom would have given any- 
thing for a word with her, for Laura had 
been his mother’s favorite niece, and was a 
good, brave-hearted girl whom he had always 
been proud of. But, though he had sought 
everywhere, he could not catch even a glimpse 
of her. 

However, as he stood by the door leading 
to the main hall, there came a sudden stir 
among the ladies. A party had just come in ; 
splendidly attired women, officers glittering 
with orders and gold lace, gentlemen of civil 
life in powdered wigs and frills starched to a 
snowy whiteness. And in the midst of them 
was Laura, looking sad and red-eyed with 
weeping. 

Tom started forward, but the thronging 
crowd was too great and he was forced back 


278 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

to the quiet spot near the door which he had 
occupied before. And, as fate willed it, in a 
few moments poor Laura, who had crept out 
of the chattering, laughing, exclaiming crush 
to cry, stood at his side. 

“ Laura,” said he eagerly. “ Laura.” His 
tone was low, but the sound reached her ; 
and she looked at him, frightened and sur- 
prised. 

“ Laura,” said he. “ Don’t you know me ? ” 

“ Cousin Tom,” whispered she, delight 
mixed with fear. “ Oh, what are you doing 
here? You have placed yourself in great 
danger ; why did you come ? ” 

“ To see you.” 

“ To see me ! ” 

“ And to ask you if this, which is to take 
place here to-night, is with your free will.” 

Laura did not answer, but sobbed. 

“ I see it is not,” proceeded Tom in the 
same low voice. “ Laura, my mother always 
thought as much of you as if you had been 
her own daughter. And I will do and dare 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 279 

for you what I would do and dare for my 
own sister.” 

“ Tom, what do you mean ? ” 

He had no chance to answer, for at this 
moment Jasper Harwood came hastily up and, 
with a searching, suspicious look at Tom, 
drew Laura away. Lieutenant Cheyne had 
come in accompanied by a crowd of young 
officers ; Tarleton and Lord Cornwallis glit- 
tered among the gathering in their splendid 
uniforms ; not a thing was wanting, in Tory 
Harwood’s mind, to make the occasion one of 
the utmost pomp and display. 

The burly old Tory stood, with Laura, in 
the midst of his glittering guests. 

This ceremony was all that was needed to 
place the Deering plantation well within his 
possession, and the thought filled him with 
great satisfaction. Some, in the mansion’s 
great rooms, had removed their masks, but 
most had not ; and, among others the numer- 
ous body of maskers in the costumes of back- 
woodsmen, who had grouped in a solid 


280 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


mass near the door, still kept their faces 
covered. 

The music was playing softly as Harwood 
raised his voice. 

“ Here, Cheyne,” said he,“ come this way.” 

Lieutenant Cheyne stepped forward, but to 
the surprise of all he was shouldered aside 
by a rough-looking youth in a black mask. 

“ What now, sir ! ” exclaimed Cheyne, 
angrily. 

“ Stand aside,” said Tom Deering, sharply. 
He pushed his way to the centre of the room, 
all falling back in surprise ; Cornwallis and 
Tarleton, from the far end of the room, had 
recognized him as their mysterious visitor of 
the night before, and were staring eagerly to 
see what he was about to do. 

“ What do you mean by this offensive con- 
duct, sir?” demanded Jasper Harwood, his 
face growing a deep purple and his wicked 
little eyes snapping with anger. “ This is my 
house and ” 

“ Hold,” cried Tom in a voice that rang 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 281 


through the room like the blast of a bugle. 
“ You speak falsely, Jasper Harwood. I am 
master here.” 

“ Master ! ” Harwood started and a shade 
of pallor crept into his face. “ What do you 
want here ? ” 

“ To take this poor girl, and place her 
among friends,” he pointed to Laura as he 
spoke. 

“ Am I, her uncle, not her friend ? ” Jasper 
Harwood advanced upon Tom, but the masked 
young swamp-rider looked him fearlessly in 
the eye. “ Who are you, sir ? ” the older man 
demanded, furiously, “ who are you, I say?” 

Tom turned and held up his hand with a 
proud gesture. 

“ Stand out, my gallant lads,” he cried, his 
eye flashing. 

The masks were torn from the faces of the 
backwoodsmen, and they stood forth with 
musket, pistol and naked sabre, facing the 
startled guests of Jasper Harwood. 

“ These ! ” cried Tom, his glance sweeping 


282 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


the brilliant throng of officers who stood, their 
swords half drawn, looking at him astounded, 
“these are Marion’s men.” 

“ And you ? ” shouted Jasper Harwood. 

Tom plucked the covering from his face. 

“ Look,” said he. 

As Jasper Harwood looked into his gallant 
nephew’s face, there came a sudden crash of 
falling metal ; the great candellabrum, which 
had been the sole means of lighting the room, 
had been dashed to the floor by Cole, and the 
place was left in complete darkness. Women 
screamed and men shouted ; but when 
lights were once more secured, the swamp- 
riders, with Laura in their midst, were gone ; 
and the hoof-beats of their horses rang out 
from far down the road. 


CHAPTER XIV 


HOW THE BRITISH LOST SOME PRISONERS 

Down the road, like the wind, raced the 
band of Marion's men ; Laura, under escort of 
Nat and David Collins, rode well ahead, as 
Tom knew that they would not meet any of 
the enemy in that direction. The road 
skirted the bay, and from across the quiet 
waters could be seen the lights of the British 
ships. 

Tom had expected pursuit to be hotly 
made, but to his surprise there was no evi- 
dence of it. A little reflection told him the 
reason for this. The plantation was a con- 
siderable distance below the city, and the offi- 
cers attending the masque had, for the most 
part, come in carriages. Therefore no charg- 
ers were available for a chase, at least not 
sufficient to mount a force capable of coping 
with our adventurers. No sound was heard 

283 


284 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

by Tom or Cole, who rode behind, alert for 
anything that might happen ; the ringing 
hoof-beats of their own party were the only 
noises that disturbed the silence. 

But, at length, even this ceased ; the caval- 
cade had been brought to a sudden halt, and 
Tom and Cole rode forward to learn the cause 
of it. Nat and Dave Collins were waiting for 
him ; Laura, patting her pawing horse’s neck, 
was beside them. 

“ What’s the matter ? ” asked Tom. 

“ As we rounded the bend in the road,” 
said David Collins, “ I thought I saw a sud- 
den gleam of light from the water, close to 
shore.” 

“ I saw it, too,” said Nat, his brother. “ It 
seemed as though it was from a boat.” 

“ It was in a boat,” put in Laura. “ I saw 
it plainly. And the boat was full of men.” 

“ Remain where you are,” directed Tom. 
“ Nat, I leave you in charge. Dave, you and 
Cole come with me ; we’ll see what all this 
means. It may be a boat’s crew from one of 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 285 

the vessels of war which has been somehow 
signaled that we are coming by this road.” 

They left their horses in care of their com- 
rades and cautiously advanced ; as they 
neared the beach they could hear the water 
lapping on the sand — yes, and now they 
caught the undoubted murmur of voices. 

“ We’ll have to put the boats’ noses up on 
the beach and wait for them,” said a voice. 

Tom nudged his companions and they re- 
turned it. “ Without question,” they thought, 
“ they have been warned, and are waiting for 
us to put in an appearance.” 

“ I expected them to pass, long before this,” 
spoke another voice, “ and keel haul me if I 
understand the delay.” 

“ Oh, give them time,” said the first 
speaker, “ we have all night before us.” 

“ No, souse my tops if we have ; the tide 
changes at two o’clock, and we want to take 
advantage of it.” 

Here followed the sound of keels grating 
upon the sand. Through the gloom Tom 


286 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


could discern two large boats, in each of 
which were a half dozen men, armed to the 
teeth. Somehow, the voice of the last speaker 
sounded strangely familiar ; Tom, who, like 
his two companions, lay flat upon the sand, 
crawled forward for a space in order that he 
might obtain a better view. As it chanced, 
in his path were a quantity of dry shells ; and 
as he drew himself over these, they made a 
crackling noise. 

“ What's that ! ” whispered one of the men 
in the boat nearest Tom. 

“ What do you mean ? ” 

“ Didn't you hear a sound from the beach 
over there? " 

A laugh followed this. 

“You thought you heard hoofs awhile 
ago," said the second voice, from the other 
boat. “ It's all your imagination." 

“ Well, tar my old rigging! " cried the other, 
obstinately. “ I heard something just then, 
and I'm going to see what it was." 

The speaker leaped out upon the sand, a 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 287 

cutlass in his right hand and a lantern in his 
left. He slowly advanced, his lantern flash- 
ing this way and that, until at last its rays 
rested upon a bronzed, youthful, smiling face 
gazing calmly, from the sand, into his own. 

“ Tom Deering,” he almost shouted, his 
eyes wide with surprise. 

“ Uncle Dick ! ” cried Tom in return, and 
in a moment he had sprung to his feet and 
gripped the old sea-dog in a hug like that of 
a cinnamon bear. 

“ Easy, lad, easy ! ” gasped Uncle Dick. 
“ If you grip me any tighter you’ll smash my 
hull and bring the masts by the board.” 

He wrung his nephew’s hand warmly, his 
weather-beaten face all wrinkled with smiles, 
his long gray cue almost bristling from pure 

joy. 

“ I thought you were one of the enemy’s 
spies,” said he at last after he had greeted the 
grinning Cole, and had had Nat presented 
to him. “ But what in old Neptune brings 
you here ? Tell me all about it.” 


288 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 


In a few moments Tom had acquainted him 
with the facts of his expedition to Charleston. 
The old man wrung his hand once more as he 
finished. 

“ Brave boy/’ cried he, delighted beyond 
measure. “ So you saved Laura from that 
swab, Harwood, did you ! Well, you’ll never 
do a better thing in your life ! And you 
have a company of friends back there a piece, 
did you say ? ” 

“ Yes, there are a round score of us, all told.” 

“You are not too much done up to take a 
hand in another little enterprise before the 
night’s over, eh, lad ? ” 

“ No,” cried the young scout, eagerly. “ I 
can speak for all my friends, I know. What 
is it, Uncle Dick?” 

“ Down there,” and the old seaman pointed 
to the water’s edge, “ I have two boats, and in 
them is the biggest part of the crew of the 
four-gun schooner, Defence.” 

“ Then your schooner was not taken by the 
enemy when they captured Charleston ! ” 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 289 

“ Nothing like it. And she’s been doing 
good work for Congress ever since, even if I 
do say it myself. But, to come back to the 
present : Some time ago I learned that your 
father was still held a prisoner in the hulks 
there,” pointing to some heavy, unpainted 
and unseaworthy craft that were anchored off 
a sandy headland and whose lights could be 
plainly seen. 

“ My father ! ” There was a sharp note of 
pain in Tom’s voice. “ Then he has not been 
sent to the English prisons ; he has been de- 
tained here in one of those hulks all this time, 
as I supposed. What a fate ! ” 

The lad would have broken down had not 
Captain Deering made haste to reassure him. 

“ There, there, boy ! don’t take it so hard. 
He’s done very well, considering. The party 
who brought me the news of him says he’s in 
good health.” 

“ Even if that be so,” broke in Tom, his 
eyes burning as they fastened themselves 
upon the hulks, “ even if that be so, how 


2 9 o FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

long can it last ? If he remains there he will 
break down both in health and spirit.” 

“ He’ll not be there long,” said Uncle Dick, 
quietly. 

Tom looked at him quickly, eagerly. 

“ What do you mean by that,” seizing 
his uncle by the arm ; “ do you mean 

that ” 

“ That is just exactly what I do mean,” 
said the seaman. “ Inside of an hour your 
father is to be transferred from the hulk in 
which he is held prisoner to the frigate Ben- 
bow, which you see lying over there,” point- 
ing to the vessel of war nearest the shore. 
“ She is to sail to-morrow for England, and 
Lord North has issued orders for the captain 
to bring your father and some other wealthy 
prisoners with him.” 

“ Yes, yes,” said Tom, his voice husky with 
anxiety. “ And your plan is ” 

“ To attack the boat that carries them from 
the hulk to the frigate. I have, as I said be- 
fore, almost the entire crew of the Defence 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 291 

here in her pinnace and gig ; and each man 
of them is armed for desperate work. There 
is room in the boats for some of your friends 
if they care to join us in this little affair ; we 
cannot have too many, as there is no knowing 
what sized crew will man the boat ; and with, 
perhaps, a marine or two for good measure.” 

Tom dispatched Cole back to bring up the 
remainder of his band ; and when they ad- 
vanced and learned what was going forward 
they, to a man, volunteered to help. The 
first thing to do was to see to Laura’s safety ; 
Captain Deering sent one of his men for a 
fisherman’s yawl which he knew was drawn 
up on the sand a short distance below. The 
fisherman was an ex-member of the Defence’s 
crew and a stout friend of his old captain ; so 
when he and one of his grown sons appeared 
with the yawl he readily agreed to row Laura 
to the schooner, the whereabouts of which 
was carefully explained to him. 

Tom, after the boat containing the girl and 
the two friendly fishermen had pulled away 


292 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

in the direction of the schooner, detailed two 
of his men to lead the horses to a point some 
miles below on the shores of the bay. Then 
he and the others placed themselves under 
the orders of Captain Deering and his first 
mate, who was in command of the second boat. 

“ Now, lads,” spoke the skipper of the De- 
fence, “ I guess there’s no use telling you 
that you are bound on a dangerous cruise — 
not a very long one, but such a one as will 
need us to keep the starboard and larboard 
watch both on deck all the time.” 

“ Douse the lantern ! ” said the mate, gruffly. 
He was a thick-set, hardy looking man, about 
his captain’s age ; he had an eye like a hawk 
and a way of casting it about every now and 
then that at once dubbed him sailor. The 
captain instantly blew out the lantern. 

“ Anything moving, Mr. Jackson ? ” asked 
he. 

“ I heard a creaking of blocks from the 
hulks,” returned the mate. “ They are low- 
ering the boat, skipper, I think.” 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 293 

“ Then we’d best be afloat ! ” exclaimed 
Captain Deering. “ Tumble in, my hearties, 
and push off.” 

The sailors of the Defence and the swamp- 
riders were soon evenly distributed between 
the gig and the pinnace ; the former was un- 
der the command of Captain Deering in per- 
son, and in the bows sat Tom and Cole ; Nat 
and David Collins were in the mate’s boat ; 
all were silent as the boats shoved off from 
the beach ; the lapping of the water against 
their sides and the long, soft strokes of the 
oars were the only sounds that could be 
heard. 

“ They’ve launched a boat,” said the mate 
in a low tone. The gig and pinnace still 
pulled side by side, a double length of oar 
between them. “ Yes, and there goes another 
one, and another.” 

“ Stiff work,” growled the captain, as he 
strove to follow the mate’s pointing finger. 
“ I can just about make them out, Mr. Jack- 
son, and they seem to be full of men.” 


294 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

“ Let’s hope they’re mostly prisoners,” said 
the mate. 

“ Have your cutlasses ready, men,” said 
Captain Deering, softly. “ We can’t use the 
pistol until we’re sure of where we are firing.” 

The three boats had pushed off from the 
hulk by this time ; one was a galley, pulled 
by at least a dozen men and carrying as many 
marines in her bow, another was a small 
jolly-boat, and the last a ship’s gig in the 
stern of which were to be seen several officers. 

“ Don’t bother the galley,” said Uncle 
Dick. “ It holds only a guard. The pris- 
oners are in the gig or the small boat.” 

“ There seem to be only three of them,” 
said Tom, straining his eyes through the 
darkness. “ But I can’t make out my father 
among them.” 

“ He’s there, fast enough,” said the cap- 
tain, encouragingly. 

The pinnace and gig lay directly in the 
paths of the advancing boats ; Captain Deer- 
ing had given orders to cease rowing, and 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 295 

they lay silently upon the water, rising and 
falling with the slight swell. The others had 
not yet seen them, for they showed no lights, 
but kept swinging steadily along with their 
sweeps. The galley was first and the skipper 
passed the word, hoarsely : 

“ We’ll have to give her a volley, after all. 
Ready, lads, and shoot low.” 

He had scarcely spoken the words when a 
marine in the bow of the approaching galley 
discovered them and gave the alarm. 

“ Pull hard,” roared Captain Deering. The 
oarsmen obeyed, and the gig shot forward. 
The swamp-riders knelt or stood in the bow, 
their muskets ready. “ Fire,” cried the 
skipper of the Defence. 

A shower of musket balls swept into the 
galley ; the marines in her were too surprised 
to make a quick recovery ; but their officers 
were shouting angry commands and hot 
words of reproof at them, and they at last 
succeeded in discharging their pieces in a 
half-hearted way ; but before they could re- 


296 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

load the gig of the Defence was alongside 
them, and cutlass and sabre were at their 
deadly work. Tom fought with desperation ; 
the galley must be beaten off before he could 
hope to get alongside the British gig, which 
held the prisoners. But the marines had re- 
covered from their surprise by this time and 
were battling determinedly. 

“ We must end this,” Tom heard Captain 
Deering growl, “ the gig is pulling away to 
save the prisoners.” The old sea-dog was 
slashing right and left with a cutlass as he 
spoke, with Tom and Cole at his side. Back 
and forth they swayed ; the gunwales of the 
gig and galley ground together, the sword- 
blades flashed up and down ; the pistols 
barked gruffly through the din of shouts and 
the clash of steel on steel. 

Cole had lost his sabre overboard, and, 
clutching his rifle-barrel with both hands, was 
doing frightful execution among the enemy 
with the brass-bound butt. At the words of 
Captain Deering, the giant slave’s eyes darted 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 297 

toward the British gig ; its seamen were pull- 
ing lustily toward the frigate, its officers urg- 
ing them to increased exertion with every 
stroke. Without a moment’s hesitation Cole 
sprang into the galley, clearing a space before 
him with his clubbed musket. Then once, 
twice, thrice the heavy butt of the weapon 
rose and fell ; there was a splintering of wood, 
a sudden shout of rage and fear, and the 
galley, her bottom stove in, sank in the waters 
of the bay. 

As she went down Cole clutched at the 
stern of the gig and was hauled on board by 
Tom and the skipper. The latter, as cool 
and collected as though he sat on his own 
after-deck, gave the word. 

“ Give way, lads ; and pull hearty.” 

The gig bounded through the waters like 
a thing of life ; the creaming waters were 
dashed from her sharp bow ; the men pulled 
with skill and good will, and Tom noted, as 
he stood in the bow, that they gained upon 
the British boat. The pinnace, under Mr. 


298 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

Johnson, had grappled with the galley on the 
other side, and had not cleared the wreck so 
quickly. But she now was bounding after 
the gig under the impulse of her crew’s 
brawny arms. 

“ They are going to reach safety under the 
frigate’s guns before we overhaul them,” said 
Captain Deering. “ I’m afraid it’s hopeless, 
lad.” 

“ No, no,” cried Tom, desperately ; “ don’t 
give up the chase. I’ll reduce their speed a 
trifle.” 

He picked up his rifle as he spoke, placed 
it to his shoulder, ran his eye along the barrel 
and pulled the trigger. A cry came from the 
flying boat ; one of the oarsmen dropped his 
sweep and tumbled into the bottom. This, of 
course, caused much confusion ; the wounded 
man was dragged forward and another man 
took his place. But the gig of the Defence 
had made a clear gain upon them of fifty yards. 

“ Good lad ! ” cried the captain. “ Try it 
again.” 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 299 

Tom did not stop to reload his rifle, but 
picked up one belonging to one of bis com- 
panions. He leveled the piece with great 
care. Once more the shot rang out, and once 
more an oarsman fell. The British officers in 
the stern now began firing, but as they did 
not take careful aim their shots did no harm. 
By this time, however, those on board the 
frigate had received the alarm ; lanterns 
flashed upon her decks and a drum rolled 
sullenly. The boat containing the prisoners 
was almost within range of her guns when 
the gig of the Defence overhauled her. 

They grappled instantly and the fight raged 
with the utmost fury. Without a moment’s 
hesitation Tom, followed by Cole, sprang into 
the enemy’s boat among the cutlasses and 
pistols of the British tars. 

“ Father,” he cried, “ I am here ! I have 
come to save you.” 

But he could not pause to look about, for 
the enemy had flown at him with great de- 
termination. Shrieks of pain and shouts of 


300 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

rage mingled with the clash of steel and the 
spiteful explosions of the firearms. But in 
the heat of the conflict the pinnace with 
Mr. Johnson and his crew arrived, and in a 
very few moments the British sailors were 
forced to surrender their arms. 

“ Now,” cried Tom, his tones full of joy, 
“ the prisoners.” 

A number of white, worn-looking patriots 
were helped into the gig. Tom’s heart sank 
when he looked at them. His father was not 
among them ! 

“ Are these all the prisoners ? ” he cried, 
addressing one of the white faced men who 
sat in the stern of the Defence’s gig. “ Was 
there not another named Deering ? ” 

“ I do not know,” returned the man. 

Tom, with despair in his eyes turned to the 
British officers in the other boat. With one 
accord they burst into a laugh. 

“ Ah ! ” exclaimed one ; “ so it was he that 
you were after. Well, you’ve failed, for you 
attacked the wrong boat.” 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 301 

“ He was not in the galley,” gasped Tom, 
his face going white. 

“ No ; he was in the jolly-boat.” The 
speaker pointed to a dark speck alongside the 
frigate. “ See, there she is ; she has made 
safety.” 

“ He is there,” shouted Tom to Captain 
Deering. “ Pull for the frigate.” 

“ Sit down,” said the old sailor quietly. 
Then he gave the word to shove off. 

“ You are not going to desert him ! ” Tom 
was beside himself. “ You are not going to 
leave him behind ! ” 

“ Give way,” ordered Captain Deering. 

The men bent to their oars, and the gig 
bounded over the short waves, putting more 
and more water between them and the frigate 
at every stroke. Mr. Johnson had issued the 
same command and the bow of the pinnace 
was but a few yards from the gig’s stern. 
Tom’s burning eyes were fixed upon the frig- 
ate ; somewhere in the dark loom of its hull 
was his father — the father whom he so longed 


302 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

to see and whom he had vowed to liberate. 
Each stroke of the oars that carried him from 
him cut him like a knife. 

“ One dash,” he implored his uncle. “ One 
swift dash and we can save him.” 

“ The frigate has lowered her boats,” said 
the skipper of the Defence. “ It would be 
certain death to attempt it.” Then to the 
sailors he cried encouragingly, “ Pull hard, 
my lads, show the British what American 
muscle can do ! ” 

The two boats shot away under the com- 
pelling force of the sturdy arms at the oars. 

“ It’s a good four knots to the schooner,” 
said the mate, from the pinnace. “ And their 
men are fresh.” 

This was true ; for a long time the men 
bent to their oars, but the schooner was still 
too far off to be seen, while the steady stroke 
of the frigate’s boats could be heard astern in 
the darkness, each moment growing nearer. 
And the other war vessels in the bay had 
sounded the alarm by this time ; signal rock- 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 303 

ets were flaring across the sky, and the light 
of lanterns was to be seen on every hand, 
while the throbbing of drums was faintly 
borne to their ears. 

“ Looks like desperate work,” said the cap- 
tain. His tones were grave and his eyes were 
straining through the gloom. “Oh, if we 
only stood on the decks of the old schooner I 
would not care for them all.” 

As though in answer to his words Tom 
suddenly sprang to his feet. 

“ Look ! ” shouted he. “ Look there ! ” 

“ The Defence ! ” exclaimed the skipper, 
joy in his voice, “ and bearing down to hunt 
for us.” 

Like a great bird the schooner loomed up 
through the darkness ; her mainsail, topsails 
and jib were set and bellying to the breeze; 
the ripple of the water at her foot could be 
plainly heard, for she was almost upon them 
when Tom discovered her. 

“ Ahoy ! ” shouted the skipper. “ Schooner, 
ahoy ! ” 


304 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

A prompt response came from the Defence’s 
deck ; she swept about with the grace of a 
hawk ; and all hands were soon on board and 
the gig and pinnace swung up after them. 

“ Make all sail,” said Captain Deering to 
Mr. Johnson. The mate’s deep tones rang 
through the schooner ; blocks creaked, ropes 
were manned, and seamen swarmed into the 
rigging. Then like a great, white ghost the 
Defence fell into the breeze and swept out of 
the harbor, leaving the pursuing boats to re- 
turn to the frigate with the news of the 
prisoners’ escape. 

As Tom leaned on the quarter-rail and 
gazed eagerly back over the schooner’s white 
track he felt a hand on his shoulder. 

“ Come, lad, forgive me,” said his Uncle 
Dick ; “ you see for yourself, don’t you, that 
it was useless to go nearer the frigate? ” 

Tom gripped his uncle’s hand. “ Yes,” he 
said, “ you were right, of course, uncle. But 
it’s pretty hard to have been so near, and, 
and ” 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 305 

He could not finish the sentence, but turned 
away abruptly, and for many a day Tom 
had a heavy heart. 


CHAPTER XV 


HOW TOM DEERING FOUGHT HIS FIRST FIGHT 
UPON THE SEA 

When the schooner was well beyond pur- 
suit she dropped in close to shore, and word 
was sent to the men who guarded the horses 
to take them back to Marion’s camp. Then 
the vessel got under way once more ; it was 
no time to loiter, as the frigates might make 
sail after them at any time. 

Tom, sick at heart at his failure to rescue 
his father, had decided to stick to the Defence 
until he saw Laura at least in safety some- 
where; and several others of his command 
were delighted at the prospects of a cruise upon 
deep water. Next morning Tom approached 
his uncle upon the subject of Laura. 

“ I’ve been running out of the port of 
Baltimore,” said Captain Deering, “ for a long 
time, and we have some folks at Baltimore. 

3°6 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 307 

You don’t remember your Uncle Ben’s family, 
I suppose? I’ve been to see them once or 
twice during the last year, and a fine, healthy 
lot of boys and girls they are, and Ben and 
his wife are as hearty as can be. Suppose I 
run up the Chesapeake, and have Laura stop 
with them for awhile ? ” 

“ An excellent idea,” said Tom, much re- 
lieved. “ And I’m glad you thought of it, 
for Laura’s safety has been troubling me a 
great deal.” 

The run along the coast up to the Chesa- 
peake was enlivened by a number of chases 
by British vessels ; there was one, a sloop-of- 
war, of about the same tonnage as the Defence 
and carrying not many more guns, which 
Captain Deering ran from with great regret. 

“ I’d like to train Long Tom on her,” said the 
old sea-dog, patting the long pivot gun, amid- 
ships ; “ but as I’ve got Laura on board, I 
suppose I must show the sloop a clean pair of 
heels.” 

When they reached Baltimore, after a nar- 


308 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

row escape from a brig and two fleet schooners 
which were cruising up and down at the 
mouth of the bay, Tom and the captain saw 
Laura safely housed with Uncle Ben, who 
was delighted to receive her ; then, after many 
“ good-byes ” they once more sought the De- 
fence. 

As it happened the harbor of Baltimore 
was in great commotion just about that time ; 
a great fleet of merchantmen, fifty sail in all, 
were waiting for a chance to sail, but the Brit- 
ish fleet outside kept up such a vigilant watch 
that it seemed as though the time would never . 
come. A brave and resolute officer, Captain 
Murray, who had at one time served in the 
land force and afterward in the infant navy, 
was engaged by the merchants of the port for 
the post of commodore of the fleet. 

His personal charge was a “ letter of 
> marque,” the Revenge, carrying a crew of 
fifty men and eighteen guns. A few days be- 
fore, Captain Murray had signaled the fleet to 
make sail ; but upon venturing into open 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 309 

water he had encountered a greatly superior 
force and was compelled with his entire fleet 
to run up the Patuxent for safety. 

However, he had now received word that 
the enemy, grown tired of waiting, had sailed, 
and he was making ready for another at- 
tempt. Knowing that the Defence had lately 
entered the port he paid her a visit next 
morning in his gig. 

“ Captain Deering, I believe,” said the com- 
mander of the letter of marque. 

“ Yes, sir,” said the old sailor, who stood in 
the waist, overlooking some repairs to the top- 
sails, which had been badly torn by a dis- 
charge of small shot from one of the British 
vessels. 

“ I am Captain Murray, of the Revenge,” 
said the visitor. “ The fleet which you see in 
the harbor is about to sail to-morrow ; I have 
come to you to know how conditions are out- 
side.” 

“ There seems to be plenty of the enemy’s 
craft,” grinned Captain Deering, “ and they 


310 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

are mighty liberal with their shot, for witness 
of which look at my topsails / 7 and he waved 
his horny hand toward the rent canvas 
which some of the sailors were stitching and 
patching as they sat with their backs to the 
bulwarks. 

“ I’ve been asking for delay,” said Captain 
Murray ; “ but the merchants want their car- 
goes afloat, and will listen to nothing else but 
immediate sailing orders, they having heard 
that the enemy had sailed.” 

“ I know what they are,” said the skipper 
of the Defence. “ These land-lubbers are 
never satisfied. If their old tubs are held 
back they rave and tear ; and if they are 
taken out in the face of the enemy and are 
captured or sunk they go on worse than be- 
fore. Tar my old hull, captain, there’s no 
way of pleasing such swabs.” 

“ I see you’ve been in some such position as 
mine yourself,” said Captain Murray. 

“ I have,” returned Captain Deering. “ I 
convoyed a fleet out of Charleston before the 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 311 

British took the town. They gave me no 
peace till I got their old hookers out ; and 
then when the enemy bore down on us, six 
sail strong and mounting as many guns as I 
had men, they scuttled here and there like 
a lot of ducks in a rain-storm. Result was 
that about half of ’em was seized ; and of 
course when I ran back with the others the 
entire blame was put upon me.” 

“ Just so,” said the captain of the letter of 
marque. “ I’m afraid that is how it is going 
to be with me. When do you sail, Captain 
Deering ? ” 

“ At the next tide,” answered the other. 

“ Could you be prevailed upon to sail with 
the fleet? ” inquired the other anxiously. The 
trim look of the Defence, the bright, well 
kept guns and the brisk businesslike crew r 
had taken his fancy. The schooner would be 
no mean addition to his fighting force, and he 
awaited the answer with interest. 

“ If the fleet,” said Captain Deering, “ sails 
when I do, and means to stand to its guns if 


312 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

the enemy is sighted, I’ll stick by you while 
I have a shot in the locker.” 

“ I thank you,” said Captain Murray grate- 
fully. “ There is to be a meeting of the cap- 
tains, upon the Revenge, this morning. We 
are going to arrange matters before sailing.” 

Now, although the merchant fleet num- 
bered fifty sail and some of them were large 
vessels, very few of them carried guns. It 
was plain, therefore, that even this great col- 
lection of craft would be comparatively help- 
less under the fire of a few light, well armed, 
fast sailing vessels of the enemy. It was to 
effect some sort of a system of defence that the 
commodore had called the captains together, 
and the meeting upon the Revenge ended in 
terms of agreement being entered into by the 
armed ships, to support one another in case 
of attack. Signals were agreed upon for the 
entire fleet, and then all retired to their re- 
spective vessels to await the turning of the 
tide. 

In the gray of the morning the boatman’s 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 313 

whistle sounded through the Defence; all 
hands turned out to up anchor and make sail. 

“ This will be our first experience at deep- 
water fighting/' said Tom to Nat Collins as 
they, with the remainder of the swamp-riders' 
band, stood in the stern, ready to lend a hand 
when required. 

“ You expect fighting, then ? " said Nat. 

“ To be sure. You see how sharply we were 
pursued in running in ? Well, if they would 
exert themselves so much against a single 
schooner, it stands to reason that they will 
double their efforts against a huge, helpless 
fleet like this. The Chesapeake will see some 
gunnery this morning, and before the sun 
gets very high, in my opinion." 

“ And your opinion's a good one, my lad," 
said the gruff voice of Mr. Johnson, the 
schooner's mate, who was passing just then. 
“ There are some of the British lying outside 
there, ready and waiting for this fleet of old 
pine planks ; and they'll dance with delight 
when we show ourselves in open water." 


314 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

There was a great flurry and noise in the 
vast gathering of merchantmen ; their cap- 
stans clanked, their blocks and rigging 
creaked, their seamen chanted as they hauled 
upon the ropes. Then one after another they 
got under way ; the Defence and the Revenge, 
followed by the other vessels carrying guns, 
led, under easy sail ; the fleet as it passed 
down the bay and out into the Atlantic made 
an imposing appearance. 

The shore line had not yet been dipped 
under the sparkling waters, when Mr. John- 
son’s prophecy came true. A fleet of priva- 
teers suddenly hove in sight, close under the 
land. The Revenge flew the signal for a 
superior force, and ordered all unarmed ves- 
sels to return to port, and the others to rally 
about her. The Defence promptly bore up 
in answer to the signal, but, to the shame of 
the others, only one brig followed her ex- 
ample ; the rest ran for Hampton Roads. 

The British fleet consisted of a large ship 
of eighteen guns, a brig of sixteen and three 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 315 

schooners ; and with one accord they stood in 
for the body of the merchantmen. 

“ There will be a general capture if that is 
allowed/’ said the skipper of the Defence to 
his mate. 

“ Ay, ay/’ growled Mr. Johnson. “ It’s 
time for the Revenge to show her teeth, if 
Murray expects to do anything.” 

“ And for the Defence, too/’ said Captain 
Deering. “ Ready the Long Tom, Mr. John- 
son ; we’ll try a round shot at that nearest 
schooner ; she’s too saucy by far for the weight 
she carries.” 

The long gun was charged and the captain 
himself sighted it. 

“ There is a long, slow swell,” said he to 
Tom, “ and that’s the best sort for gunnery 
afloat. You can time the rise to a fraction of 
a second. The best gunners are going to win 
this fight, for everything is in their favor.” 

He ran his eye along the polished length 
of the pivot gun, then applied the match. 
Long Tom barked sharply, the solid shot 


31 6 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

went skipping across the waves like a lieavy- 
winged bird ; there came a quick crackling 
sound upon the schooner fired into and her 
foremast, splintered close to the deck, went, 
in a tangle of rigging and spars, over the 
side. 

“ Well aimed," praised Mr. Johnson, ad- 
miringly. “ She's out of the fight for awhile, 
anyhow." 

“ There goes the Revenge," cried Tom. 

The letter of marque had put herself 
into a tight place ; in order to give his mer- 
chantmen time to escape, Captain Murray had 
awaited the approach of the privateers, and 
in a short time he was between the fire of the 
ship and brig. As Tom spoke the Revenge 
let go both broadsides and she reeled trem- 
bling under the shock. As Captain Deering 
had predicted, good gunnery was going to be 
felt in that long, slow swell ; the firing of the 
Revenge was almost perfect, and the damage 
done by her broadsides and smaller guns 
during the next half hour was very great. 



“ JJ/ELL AIMED ” PRAISED 
yy MR. JOHNSON 






FIGHTING KING GEORGE 317 

The two uninjured schooners bore up on 
the Defence and engaged her ; the American 
brig here entered the fight, with the brass 
carronades with which she was armed. She 
took the attention of one of the schooners 
from the Defence, and Captain Deering 
headed for the other with his bow guns bark- 
ing like vicious dogs and the powder-smoke 
almost covering his vessel’s advance. The 
steering-gear of the privateer had been dam- 
aged by a well-placed shot from the long gun 
early in the action; so she could not ma- 
noeuvre as she otherwise would have done ; 
the result was that the Defence laid herself 
alongside, and with a wild cheer the seamen 
and swamp-riders, led by Tom and the mate, 
sprang over the rail and rushed among her 
crew. These latter, apparently, were not ac- 
customed to this style of fighting, for after a 
weak resistance they threw down their arms 
and cried for quarter. 

Captain Deering directed that they should 
be driven down below and the hatches bat- 


3i 8 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

tened down ; then placing a half dozen men 
on board the captured craft to manage her, he 
drew off. The American brig was still en- 
gaged with the third schooner ; the latter was 
the lightest armed and manned, and as the 
brig seemed fully capable of providing her 
with entertainment the Defence went about 
and bore up for the Revenge. 

Captain Murray was fighting his vessel with 
desperate resolution ; but, by this time, his 
ammunition began to grow low, for they had 
been hotly engaged for a full hour, and his 
fire had somewhat slackened. And now the 
gallant officer’s heart leaped with delight as 
he saw the Defence heading for the brig, upon 
his starboard ; for with the attention of this 
vessel attracted from him for a space he felt 
that he could deal with the ship. 

Tom Deering, who had sailed upon many 
coasting trips in the Defence before the out- 
break of the war, was at the helm ; Captain 
Deering was superintending the loading of his 
guns with cannister and musket balls; Mr. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 319 

Johnson was mustering a boarding crew in 
the waist. As they neared the brig, which 
greeted them with a scattering fire of small 
arms and a broadside which did little or no 
damage, the captain shouted to Tom, 

“ Down your helm — hard ! ” 

The signal had been arranged between 
them ; the brig manoeuvred to meet the ex- 
pected movement of the schooner ; but Tom 
promptly threw his helm up, and a swinging 
spar became entangled in the rigging of the 
Defence, whose mate at once, with a body of 
seamen, sprang to make the tangle secure. 
The schooner was now in a position from 
which she could rake the brig from stem to 
stern. 

“ Fire,” cried Uncle Dick. The guns, 
loaded with the cannister and musket-balls, 
swept the British ship’s decks, and in a few 
moments there was not a man to be seen. 
Those who had not fallen by the fire had 
sought safety below decks ; Mr. Johnson was 
about to give the word to board, when the 


320 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

lashings gave way, and the two vessels drifted 
apart. 

The guns of the Defence were given time 
to cool and commander and crew looked 
about them. The ship which had engaged the 
Revenge had hauled off; the third schooner, 
after inflicting sufficient damage to the rig- 
ging of the American brig to prevent pursuit, 
had also drawn away. Then Captain Murray, 
whose vessel had suffered severely, having 
borne the pounding of both British ship and 
brig for an hour, flew the signal to cease fir- 
ing. He knew that it would not be possible 
for them to take the British vessels, so a con- 
tinuation of the action would only be a waste 
of ammunition. 

Within a half hour the enemy had drawn 
together to make repairs ; then they hoisted 
what sail they could, and all five stood out 
to sea, while the Revenge and Defence re-en- 
tered the harbor with the crippled brig limp- 
ing, as it were, in their wake. For this gal- 
lant action the skippers and crews received 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 321 

the thanks of the merchants of Baltimore. 
The Defence was somewhat damaged by the 
British fire ; so Captain Deering delayed long 
enough to refit ; and there being no enemy 
now to fear the merchant fleet sailed in safety 
to their different destinations. One morning 
the Defence also slipped out of the bay and 
was soon bounding swiftly over the sparkling 
waters of the Atlantic, on her way south. 


CHAPTER XVI 


HOW TOM PEERING SERVED WITH GENERAL 
GREENE 

About a week later the Defence ran into 
Charleston harbor, and Tom Deering and his 
friends, after bidding the skipper good-bye, 
were put ashore. The journey back to the 
district across the Santee was made on foot. 
It was a long and wearisome one, and being 
made at night caused it to seem all the more 
difficult. The first day they passed at the In- 
dian’s Head ; and in three nights more they 
found themselves back in the camp of the 
Americans. 

It was shortly after their return that 
Marion retired to Snow’s Island, which is to 
this day pointed out as “ the camp of the 
Swamp-Fox.” He had concluded that the 
place would be a safe depot for his arms, am- 

322 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 323 

munition, prisoners and invalids — difficult of 
access, easily guarded and close to the scene 
of his most active operations. 

Snow’s Island lay at the confluence of 
Lynch’s Creek and the Pedee. On the east 
was the latter river ; on the west was Clarke’s 
Creek, issuing from Lynch’s, a deep stream 
which small vessels might ascend ; Lynch’s 
Creek lay on the north, but was choked by 
rafts, logs, and refuse timber. The island was 
large ; thick woods covered the elevated 
tracts, dense cane-brakes the lower. 

It was here that Marion made his fortress. 
He secured all the boats in the neighborhood, 
destroying those which he could not use. 

Where the natural defenses of the place 
seemed to require strengthening he labored 
upon them ; by cutting down bridges and 
obstructing the ordinary pathways with tim- 
ber he contrived almost perfectly to isolate 
the section of country under his command. 
From this fortress his scouting parties were 
sent forth nightly in all directions to report 


324 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

on the doings of the British at Nelson’s 
Ferry and Scott’s Lake. 

Here Marion and his men lived like the 
Robin Hood of old, and his generous outlaws 
of Sherwood forest. Nature herself seemed 
to be with them ; the dense woods and inter- 
minable growth screened them from the 
enemy ; the vine and briar guarded the 
passes ; the swamp was their moat ; their bul- 
warks were the deep ravines, which, watched 
by sleepless riflemen, were quite as impreg- 
nable as the castles of the Rhine. 

Tom Deering and Cole were kept busy 
those first days at Snow’s Island ; for General 
Greene, a soldier of great firmness, prudence 
and forethought had some time before as- 
sumed command of the army of the South, 
and the young scout carried all the despatches 
between the two camps. One day at the Con- 
tinental camp Tom was summoned to the tent 
of the commanding officer. The sentry passed 
him in, and he stood at the flap of the tent, his 
hand at the salute, waiting to be addressed. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 325 

A number of officers were with General 
Greene, and they seemed to be deeply inter- 
ested in some maps which lay upon the table 
before them. General Greene at length 
looked up. 

“ Deering,” said he, “ I have sent for you 
because you are well acquainted with this 
country in every direction and because you 
are very well spoken of by General Marion,” 
for the American leader had now attained 
that rank. 

“ Yes, general,!’ answered Tom, wondering 
what was to come. 

“ As you have probably heard,” continued 
the officer, “ General Morgan is operating in 
the western section of the state ; it is positively 
necessary that I, in person, reach his force 
without delay.” 

“ I can guide you, general,” said Tom 
promptly. “ I have been over the ground 
many times.” 

“Very well,” said Greene, briefly. “See 
that your mount is rubbed down, fed and well 


326 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

rested ; and get some sleep yourself. We 
start in the morning at daylight.” 

Tom saluted and left the tent to communi- 
cate the intelligence to Cole. The General 
Morgan of whom Greene had spoken was in 
command of a corps of light infantry, of the 
Maryland line, numbering over three hun- 
dred men, two hundred Virginia militia, and 
the cavalry force that had, under Lieutenant- 
Colonel Washington, just beaten the British 
at Clermont. Sumpter had been wounded in 
the fight at Blackstock and was, as yet, un- 
able to leave his bed, so his force, also, joined 
itself to Morgan’s. 

Cornwallis had been on the point of ad- 
vancing into North Carolina ; but being un- 
willing to leave Morgan’s brigade in his rear, 
he despatched Colonel Tarleton against him. 
Morgan had, at first, retreated before the 
superior numbers of the British ; but being 
closely pursued, he halted at a place called 
the Cowpens, and arranged his men in the 
order of battle. Tarleton’s headlong drag- 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 327 

oons rushed upon him ; the militia had given 
way and the regular troops followed. Just 
when it seemed that Morgan was beaten, he 
succeeded in reforming his scattered ranks 
and ordered a general charge. Shamed, and 
eager to show their gallant leader that his 
faith in them had not been misplaced, the 
Americans dashed at the astounded enemy 
and sent them flying in all directions. 

Upon receiving intelligence of Tarleton’s 
repulse, Cornwallis left the banks of the 
Broad River, after destroying his heavy bag- 
gage, and commenced one of his rapid 
marches toward the fords of the Catawba, 
hoping to reach there in time to intercept the 
retreat of Morgan, who would, of course, 
know that he would now be pursued by the 
main body of the enemy. 

This was the news which General Greene 
had just received, and which made him so 
anxious to go to Morgan and personally see 
that no rash measures were attempted that 
would endanger the brigade. He, with Tom 


328 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

Deering, Cole and a half dozen mounted in- 
fantry, started next morning. After a hard 
ride of almost two days they reached Morgan 
where he had encamped upon the Catawba. 
He had reached the fords about two hours 
before Cornwallis ; the camp-fires of the latter 
could be seen across the river, for the British 
general had put off the crossing until morn- 
ing, being sure that he would overtake his 
adversary then. 

But, as fate willed it, the Catawba rose rap- 
idly during the night ; and, to Cornwallis’ 
consternation, was impassable for two days. 

Greene now took command of Morgan’s di- 
vision in person ; Tom was sent out with a 
party to watch the movements of the enemy 
who, as soon as they could cross the river, 
were once more in hot pursuit. It was a race 
for the Yadkin, now ; the Americans were 
weighted down with baggage and their prog- 
ress was slow ; the British carried nothing, 
practically, but their arms, and their march 
was made at great speed. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 329 

The rear-guard of the patriots was about 
crossing the Yadkin when the van of the 
British came up. Greene had put Tom in 
charge of a small party which was detailed to 
protect some baggage wagons ; the wagons got 
stuck in the soft and badly cut ford and the 
enemy galloped forward with cheers to cut 
them off. 

“ Stand, men ! ” called Tom, calmly. 
“ Steady ! Don’t give an inch ! We’ll make 
these fellows pay dearly for the baggage. 
Hold your fire until I give the word.” 

So he talked to them as they stood, waist 
deep, in the stream ; the British rode forward 
firing their pieces and then plunged into 
the ford. The rear-guard at the word from 
Marion’s young scout raised their rifles and 
poured a steady volley into them which emp- 
tied many saddles. General Greene rode down 
to the edge of the stream about this time. 

Tom saluted. 

“I’m afraid we cannot save the wagons, 
general.” 


330 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

“ Get more horses,” ordered Greene, who 
disliked leaving behind supplies of which his 
soldiers were so much in need. 

Fresh horses were hitched to the wagons, 
the teamsters cracked their whips and shouted 
like madmen ; but it was no use. 

“ The wheels are too deeply sunk in the 
mud, general,” reported Tom. 

“ Cut the traces,” directed General Greene, 
regretfully ; “ we must leave them, I suppose.” 

While the traces were being cut another 
charge was made by the enemy’s horsemen. 
The rear-guard under Tom had crossed the 
ford, and met the charge with steady courage. 
The deadly rifles spoke with flaming tongues, 
and once more the dragoons fell back. This 
time, however, they had approached nearer, 
and as they were scattering to run Tom caught 
sight of a face which caused him to start with 
surprise and then clap spurs to Sultan in 
reckless pursuit. 

It was Mark Harwood, in a British uni- 
form, dismounted by the rifle fire and racing 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 331 

desperately to escape. But a dozen bounds 
of the big chestnut placed Tom alongside his 
enemy ; with a drawn pistol held to his head 
Mark paused, his face deathly white. 

“ Mercy,” he gasped. “ Tom, have mercy.” 

“ You are my prisoner,” said Tom, sternly. 

“ No, no,” cried Mark. “ Morgan or Greene 
would hang me. Let me go. I’ll do what- 
ever you say. I’ll tell you where your father 
is — I know you’ve been anxious about him.” 

“ Where is he ? ” Tom’s heart beat hard. 
Since the night of the battle in the bay he 
had heard nothing of his father and had 
spent many hours and days brooding upon 
his fate. 

“ Promise you’ll let me go free,” demanded 
the Tory, “ and I’ll tell you.” 

“ I promise,” said Tom. 

“ He was taken on board the frigate Ben- 
bow, which sailed for New York some time 
ago.” • 

“ Are you speaking the truth ? ” 

“ Upon my honor.” 


332 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

“ Your honor ! ” Tom laughed with scorn. 
“ But go, I give you a minute to get out of 
my sight.” 

Mark dashed for the bush and disappeared 
like magic ; Tom turned Sultan’s head and 
rode back to his comrades. 

“ I thought you were about to take a pris- 
oner,” said General Greene. “ We cannot 
bother with them now.” 

“ It was a Tory cousin of mine, general,” 
said the scout. “ He gave me some valuable 
information about the whereabouts of my 
father, and, knowing that you wanted no 
prisoners anyway, I let him go.” 

“ Quite right. I am glad to hear that 
you’ve had news of your father. I have 
heard how he was taken prisoner ; he was a 
brave man. Perhaps we can secure his ex- 
change.” 

“ If we only could,” cried Tom, eagerly. 
“ I would give anything to see him at liberty 
once more.” 

And from that time on there was not an 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 333 

hour that he was not planning a way by 
which his father was to breathe free air again. 

“ If I could only get to New York,” he re- 
peated constantly. “ If I only could get to 
New York. I might be able to do something, 
then. But here I am helpless.” 

Some nights later the opposing armies were 
once more encamped with only a stream be- 
tween them. And again, remarkable as it 
seems, the water rose suddenly in the night, 
making the ford impassable. 

This afforded Greene time to put a goodly 
distance between himself and Cornwallis ; but 
the latter continued the chase with unabated 
determination, as soon as he had made the 
crossing ; Greene was retreating toward Vir- 
ginia ; and having abandoned some of his 
baggage was making better progress. Once 
more they approached a river, this time the 
Don ; Greene's army crossed it just as, for the 
third time, the British reached the opposite 
bank. Disheartened by these continued dis- 
appointments after such desperate efforts, 


334 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

Cornwallis here gave up the chase, and 
marching south, established himself at Hills- 
boro. 

Greene lay on the Don for some little time, 
resting the weary brigade and recruit- 
ing. 

The defense of Virginia was at this time in 
the competent hands of the Marquis de Lafay- 
ette who was encamped not far from Peters- 
burg. Desiring to communicate with him 
before marching back into Carolina, General 
Greene one day sent for Tom. 

“ I am going to give you a chance to set 
your father free,” said he. 

Tom’s eyes sparkled with joy ; he could 
scarcely hold himself in, so great was his 
delight. 

“ Do that, general,” he cried, “ and there is 
nothing that I will not do in return.” 

“ In giving you this opportunity,” said 
Greene, “ I am also sending you upon a dan- 
gerous mission. I want you to carry some 
important dispatches to General Washington, 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 33J 

who is somewhere in the neighborhood of 
New York.” 

“ Very well, sir.” Tom stood saluting in 
the doorway. 

“ These papers contain the reports of the 
army of the South, and are to be forwarded to 
Congress. I tell you this in order that you 
might know the value of your charge and 
guard it accordingly. When you go out, tell 
the sentry to request General Morgan to come 
to me. That is all.” 

Tom saluted and left the tent. All that 
day Greene and Morgan were in consultation ; 
the result was a goodly packet of papers 
strongly tied and securely sealed, which were 
handed Tom next day as he sat upon Sultan's 
back before the commander's headquarters, 
with his faithful Cole at his side. 

“ Make your best speed,” said General 
Greene, “ and guard your dispatches with 
your life. And now, God bless you.” 

The hands of the young swamp-rider and 
his faithful servant went up in a smart salute. 


336 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

Then they touched Sultan and Dando with 
the spur and went dashing away toward the 
north, Tom’s heart throbbing with joy at the 
prospect of at last rendering his father aid. 


CHAPTER XVII 


HOW A TRAITOR TO HIS COUNTRY WAS TAKEN 
AND LOST 

The hardships of the following weeks were 
never forgotten by Tom Deering nor Cole ; 
the entire state of Virginia seemed overrun 
with the enemy in small parties ; they were 
compelled to lie concealed for days at a time 
in the hut of a slave, in the cabin of a wood- 
man or in the dwellings of patriots of higher 
rank. Sometimes these shelters were not to 
be had ; and in such cases they slept in the 
woods or the thickets. Food was scarce, and 
many days they scarcely broke their fast. 

At length joyous news reached them. 
Lafayette had set out from Baltimore in the 
latter part of April and had arrived on the 
29th, after forced marches of two hundred 
miles, at Richmond. This was the first news 
of the gallant marquis that they had heard 
337 


338 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

since leaving the camp of General Greene on 
the Don, weeks before. They were not more 
than a hundred miles or so from Richmond 
at the time, and at once set out for that place. 

“ Great things have happened, Cole, since 
we started on this journey,” said Tom, “ and 
greater still are going to happen.” 

News had reached them that on March 
15th Greene, with an army of above 4,000 
men had been attacked by Cornwallis at Guil- 
ford Court House, and they learned that while 
the Americans had fallen back, Cornwallis 
was so badly crippled that he could not follow 
up his advantage. 

“ And they say,” said Tom, “ that Lord 
Cornwallis intends to march north and en- 
deavor to conquer Virginia. Well, let him 
come ; I suppose Lafayette will be ready for 
him, and perhaps he will find that Virginia 
is as tough a bone to pick as Carolina.” 

They were riding, while Tom spoke, along 
a narrow and little frequented road ; it was 
late on the second day of their journey since 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 339 

hearing of the entrance of the French general 
into Richmond, and they had already begun 
to wonder how far they were from the town. 
Standing some distance from the road, among 
a clump of trees was a long, low building that 
looked like a schoolhouse. The two stopped 
to examine it carefully before venturing into 
full view of its possible occupants. 

“ It looks like a schoolhouse, n said the 
young swamp-rider, “ and, if it is, should be 
deserted at this time. But there is no telling, 

in these days, for ” 

But he never finished the sentence. 

A scream rang out from the building at 
which they were gazing, and almost at the 
same instant the door burst open and a boy 
of possibly fifteen darted forth. After him 
followed a man in the uniform of a British 
general of brigade, and two soldiers, one of 
whom carried a rope. 

“ Stop, you dog,” cried the officer in a high, 
harsh tone. “ Stop, or I fire ! ” 

He held a heavy pistol in his hand ; the 


340 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

fleeing lad saw it and stopped, terror- 
stricken. 

“ Come back,” directed the officer, a sneer 
curling his lip at the promptness of the obe- 
dience. “ Come back, you young hound, and 
answer the questions which I ask you.” 

The boy retraced his steps reluctantly. A 
girl of about sixteen, meantime, had emerged 
from the building with two small children 
clinging to her skirts ; fear had blanched all 
their faces ; they gazed, trembling and silent, 
at the boy and the officer. 

“ We are needed here, Cole,” said Tom, 
evenly. “ I wonder how many there are in 
the party at the schoolhouse ? ” 

Cole bent his brows in an expression that 
expressed his fear that there were more of 
them than were visible. 

“ You stay here,” said Tom. “ Dismount 
and have your rifle ready. I’m going over 
there to speak to those redcoats.” 

Cole, without a word, did as commanded ; 
he squatted among some bushes in a spot 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 341 

from which he had a clear view of the school- 
house ; his rifle was held between his knees, 
ready for anything that might occur. 

The lad at the schoolhouse, white faced and 
with quivering lip, stood before the British of- 
ficer ; he was a slight, delicate boy, at best, and 
seemed unaccustomed to rough treatment. 
The redcoat glared at him like an animal, 
blood hungry and enraged. 

“ I want the truth,” said he. 

“ I have told you the truth,” was the boy’s 
reply. “ I know nothing.” 

“ You lie ! ” Turning to the soldier who 
held the rope, the officer proceeded, “ Cor- 
poral, bring the halter here ; perhaps that 
will bring him to his senses and induce him 
to tell the truth.” 

The girl, who stood in the doorway with 
the children, screamed sharply and, running 
forward, she threw her arms about the boy’s 
neck. 

“ No, no,” she cried. “ Please don’t harm 
him ; he is my brother ; he knows nothing.” 


342 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

“ Corporal,” ordered the officer, “ take her 
away.” 

Despite her cries, the girl was dragged 
away ; the boy forgot his own danger and 
sprang toward the two soldiers, his eyes 
flashing. 

“ Let her go,” he cried, his pale cheeks 
flushing with indignation. “ Take your 
hands off, you cowards ! ” 

“ Ah, you have spirit, have you,” cried the 
officer, his laugh sounding harsh and unpleas- 
ant upon the evening air. “ Well, you’ll 
need it before many minutes, my lad, if you 
don’t loosen that tongue of yours.” 

“ I tell you again, I know nothing about 
the American general’s army ; I did not see 
them ; I do not know how many or how few 
men there are in Richmond.” 

“ Corporal, the halter,” cried the officer ; 
“ there is no use in our wasting words here.” 

The British corporal brought the rope ; the 
boy’s eyes widened as he looked upon it, but 
his lips closed firmly. Without a word more 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 343 

it was tossed over the limb of a near-by tree 
and the corporal was widening the noose 
when Tom rode up. 

“ Just one moment,” said Marion's young 
scout. “ I would like to know what this lit- 
tle pleasantry means, if you please." 

He sat upon Sultan’s back and gazed coolly 
into the faces of the three redcoats. The offi- 
cer had put down his pistol some few minutes 
before, and now clapped his hand to his 
sword. He was a handsome man, with pierc- 
ing eyes that contained, also, something that 
was cold and cruel ; his nose and chin were 
prominent and aggressive, demonstrating a 
bold and enterprising spirit — a spirit capable 
of great things or the most base. He looked 
at the young swamp-rider for a moment, and 
then said, sneeringly, 

“ So you would like to know what this lit- 
tle pleasantry, as you call it, means, would 
you?" 

“ Yes," replied Tom Deering, his voice as 
even as though he were talking to Cole by 


344 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

the camp-fire, and his eyes as steady as though 
he were gazing at an empty horizon line, “ I 
have some curiosity on that point. If you 
see your way clear to enlightening me I 
should be obliged to you.” 

“ And, suppose,” said the British brigadier, 
“ suppose I should refuse ? ” 

“ In that event,” spoke the scout, “ I would 
venture a guess — and a pretty accurate one, I 
fancy.” 

“ Indeed?” The bitterness of the officer’s 
sneer increased. “ You flatter yourself upon 
your coolness, I take it ; but this time, at 
least, you have made a mistake.” His sword 
suddenly flashed out from its scabbard, and 
in a voice thick with rage, he shouted : 

“ You rebel dog, I’ll teach you a lesson for 
your insolence. Down from your horse ! ” 
Tom sat still, gazing into the passion in- 
flamed countenance before him ; seeing that 
he did not move to obey, the officer sprang 
forward, his sword ready for a blow. When 
it descended Tom received it upon the steel 



JE OFFICER SPRANG 
FORWARD 










. 



































































FIGHTING KING GEORGE 345 

barrel of his holster pistol, not even troubling 
himself to draw his sword. 

“ Now,” said he, gazing with irritating 
calmness into the other’s eyes, “ you really 
should not allow yourself to give way to these 
sudden fits. You are of a rather stout habit, 
and apoplexy is not a thing to be tempted.” 

For a moment the brigadier seemed unable 
to speak, so enraged was he. Then he man- 
aged to shout an order to the corporal ; and 
the latter rushed toward his rifle which stood 
leaning against the schoolhouse wall. But 
his hands had no sooner closed upon it, than 
a shot rang out from the bushes at the road- 
side and he fell prone upon his face. At this 
the other soldier sprang at the young man, 
plucking a bayonet from his belt ; but the 
heavy ball of Tom’s pistol broke his shoulder 
and he sank beside his comrade. 

“ Now, sir,” said Tom sternly, “ you are my 
prisoner.” 

The British brigadier looked at him glow- 
eringly for a moment ; his sword was held as 


346 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

though he meditated another spring, but Tom 
checked any idea which he might have had 
of such an attempt. 

“ If you desire to throw away your life,” 
said the young scout, “ attempt to escape. If 
I raise my hand you will be shot from the 
cover along the road just as your corporal 
was.” 

There was a haggard, despairing look in the 
British officer’s face as he, at length, laid 
down his sword. Tom called Cole from his 
post, and the giant negro mounted guard over 
him. In a few moments Tom discovered that 
the three redcoats had ridden up to the school- 
house just as the children were about leaving 
it for the day. The boy whom they were 
about to hang, young as he was, was the 
schoolmaster ; the girl and the two younger 
children were his sister and brothers, who had 
clung to him in his danger, even after all the 
others had scattered, terror-stricken, to their 
homes about the countryside. 

“ Richmond,” said the young schoolmaster, 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 347 

“is about three miles away, straight ahead. 
Keep to the road ; you can’t help but strike it.” 

Cole bound the prisoner upon his horse, 
which was found tied behind the school- 
house ; the young girl and her brother 
thanked them with tears in their eyes ; and 
then they mounted and rode away in the 
direction indicated. 

It was quite dark when they, at length, 
sighted the lights of the town from a rise in 
the ground ; they skirted a clump of woods 
and entered a lane which was lined with trees 
upon each side and was very dark. However, 
as it seemed to lead directly to Richmond, 
they pushed ahead without any hesitation. 
They had ridden well into the lane, when a 
volley of shots rang out ; Cole clutched at his 
arm, and the prisoner’s horse fell kicking in 
its death agonies. 

Cole took his rein in his teeth and, fol- 
lowing Tom’s example, drew his pistol as 
he set spurs to his horse. With great leaps 
Sultan and Dando bounded forward and as 


348 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

they sped down the dark lane they heard 
their late prisoner’s voice crying after them, 
triumphantly, 

“When you reach De Lafayette, tell him 
how you caught me, and how I slipped 
through your fingers ! ” 

Within an hour after escaping this ambush 
Tom was in the camp of Marquis de Lafay- 
ette, and was explaining his mission to that 
brave gentleman himself. 

“ It is almost a miracle that you have 
escaped capture,” said he, speaking with a 
slight French accent. “ Your ride from North 
Carolina must have been filled with many 
perils.” 

“ Yes, general,” answered the youth ; “ but 
the strangest of all happened on the road just 
below the town.” 

“ Ah ! and what was that? ” 

In a very few words Tom told him of his 
capture of the British brigadier, the ambush, 
and the prisoner’s cry when he found himself 
safe with his friends once more. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 349 

The general’s keen eyes flashed. “ What 
was he like — your prisoner?” he demanded. 
“ Describe him ! ” and Tom began to tell what 
he could remember. But almost at the first 
word General de Lafayette came to his feet with 
a spring, and his clinched fist struck the table 
a blow that made it dance. 

“ It was he,” came from his lips in almost 
a shout. “ It was the arch-traitor Benedict 
Arnold himself! He is here with Phillips, 
and is leaving a trail of rapine behind him.” 
The marquis clapped Tom on the back, as he 
continued, regretfully : “ My boy, you have 

escaped fame by a hair’s breadth ; by to- 
night’s work on the road you came within the 
wink of an eye of writing your name with 
your sword-point upon the pages of your 
country’s history ! ” 


CHAPTER XVIII 


HOW TOM DEERING RODE WITH WASHINGTON 
AT YORKTOWN 

Tom remained with Lafayette in Virginia 
for some time. 

“ Your orders,” the general had said to him, 
“ are to make all speed to General Washing- 
ton’s camp, are they not ? ” 

“ Yes, general,” answered the scout. 

“ Then, you will make more speed by re- 
maining where you are for a time. To at- 
tempt to win your way through the country 
north of here would be folly at this time — 
you would lose both your dispatches and your 
life.” 

“ But,” protested Tom, “ my orders were 
such as to ” 

“ Your orders were to deliver the dispatches 
to General Washington,” spoke Lafayette, 
quietly. “ And if you ride north now, it will 
350 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 351 

be as though you desired the papers to fall 
into the hands of the enemy.” He smiled at 
the young scout’s indignant expression. 
“You love your country’s cause, I feel sure 
of that ; but it is one thing to be brave and 
another thing to be foolish. Wait ; in a few 
weeks, or days, perhaps, by hard riding and 
great caution you might get through. But 
at this time the attempt would be suicide.” 

Tom realized the truth of all this, but 
chafed at the delay ; now that he had definite 
news of his father he burned with the desire 
to help him in some way. 

“ If I could only put the matter before 
General Washington,” he told himself again 
and again, “ he would have him exchanged, 
for the general would appreciate his service.” 

The friends of America in the British par- 
liament, and they were many, were rapidly 
beginning to make headway at this time ; 
Lord North was put to his wit’s end to main- 
tain his position against them. “ End the 
war,” was beginning to be heard night after 


352 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

night in both the Commons and the Lords ; 
even the crusty old king was beginning to 
waver in his purpose. 

Colonel Phillips and the traitor Arnold had 
been beaten off by Lafayette and the gallant 
Baron Steuben ; and just as Phillips was 
breathing his last Cornwallis arrived in 
Petersburg with 7,000 picked men. Cornwal- 
lis, while a stern, relentless soldier — indeed a 
ruthless, in many respects, was still a gentle- 
man ; and one of his first acts upon taking 
command, was to pack Arnold back to New 
York ; the traitor was more than he could 
tolerate. 

The British at once seized all the horses for 
many miles around — hundreds of them — 
overran the James River district, and took 
possession of Richmond and Williamsburg. 

“ There is one thing I like about the war as 
conducted in Virginia,” Tom said to Cole one 
morning as they were ready to depart on a 
scout. “ There are not nearly so many Tories ; 
there is not that neighbor against neighbor 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 353 

which exists in Carolina. Up here almost 
every enemy wears a red coat.” 

This was the day that Tom intercepted a 
dispatch from Sir Henry Clinton, calling 
Cornwallis to the seacoast. He reported in 
the afternoon to the commander. 

“ But where is the dispatch ? ” asked 
Lafayette. 

“ Lord Cornwallis has it by this time, I 
suppose,” answered the scout. 

“ Ah ! ” Lafayette looked at his horseman 
sharply. “ Tell me about it.” 

“ I and my servant, general, sprang upon 
the courier just as he was climbing the bank 
after crossing the James. We took his papers 
and let him go. As you directed me to do in 
every case, I read the dispatches in order to 
assure myself that they were worth bringing 
to your notice.” 

“ Yes ! ” said the general, expectantly. 

“ General Clinton desires Lord Cornwallis 
to at once proceed to the coast, and hold him- 
self ready to reenforce the army at New York.” 


354 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

“ Ah, is Washington pressing Sir Henry so 
close ! ” cried Lafayette, delighted. “ If so I 
see the end coming at last. But proceed / 7 

“ During the morning , 77 continued Tom, “ I 
was sighted by a scouting party of the enemy. 
I had sealed up the dispatches about as I got 
them, and in my flight I managed to drop 
them, as though by accident. This ruse, I 
thought, would lead General Cornwallis to 
think that the contents of the dispatches were 
still secret . 77 

“ Very good ! 77 said the French general, his 
lip closing in a firm line. “ This perhaps 
will lead to something . 77 

What it led to was this : Cornwallis, in 
answer to Clinton’s appeal, set his force in 
motion from Williamsburg to Portsmouth. 
He was upon the point of crossing the James 
when Lafayette attacked him with great fury, 
under the impression that the main body of 
his army had already crossed. 

A day or so before, Tom had been dis- 
patched in hot haste to the camp of General 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 355 

Wayne to urge him to form a junction with 
Lafayette. At the prospect of a fight “ Mad 
Anthony/' had leaped to his feet and roared 
out his orders to make ready to break camp. 
And, as it happened, it was he that led the 
attack upon Cornwallis at the James. Tom, 
who had a high admiration for the courage of 
this dashing soldier, had asked leave to re- 
main with him during the fight, and had 
granted the permission with a laugh. 

“ I may want a fast horse to carry back my 
news of victory/' said he, a twinkle in his 
eye, “ and,” with a glance of appreciation at 
Sultan, “ you have the best in the army.” 

It was only a short time after this that 
they threw themselves upon the enemy. Gen- 
eral Wayne's eyes opened wide at sight of 
their great array. 

“ We're attacking Cornwallis' entire force,” 
cried a staff-officer in dismay. “ Shall we 
sound the retreat ? ” 

Wayne threw his eagle eye over the 
field. 


356 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

“ No,” he shouted, hotly. “ Sound the 
charge.” 

The bugle rang out and the slender com- 
mand charged with great impetuosity ; then 
like a flash, before the astounded British 
could recover, Wayne ordered a retreat. If 
he had attempted the retreat in the first in- 
stance the chances are that he would have 
lost his entire command ; as it was, Corn- 
wallis was so astonished at the bold ma- 
noeuvre that he could not take advantage 
of the American’s position until too late. 
Afterward he, apparently, suspected an am- 
buscade, for he sternly forbade any pur- 
suit. 

The country to the north was now somewhat 
clear of the enemy, and Tom asked General 
Lafayette’s permission to go on toward New 
York. 

“ It would be as well, perhaps,” said the 
French officer. “ The way is as free of British 
as it will be for some time, and the dispatches 
are evidently important. But proceed by way 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 357 

of Baltimore ; you have the best chance of 
getting through by that route.” 

The ride to Baltimore was a long and dif- 
ficult one, also attended by great danger. 
When he reached that city he, of course, at 
once proceeded to the home of his Uncle Ben. 
After greeting Laura, who was delighted to 
see him, he inquired after the brave old skip- 
per of the Defence — Uncle Dick. 

“ The Defence is being used as a dispatch 
boat by the Count de Grasse,” answered Uncle 
Ben. “ You know the French fleet is now in 
the Chesapeake.” 

“ Why,” said Tom, “ you astonish me. I 
have heard nothing of that.” 

“The news was slow in coming,” laughed 
Uncle Ben, his face shining with delight. 
“ It must have been delayed somehow. And 
have you not heard of Cornwallis’ position ? ” 
“ He is at Portsmouth, is he not? ” 

“ No ; he remained there but a short time. 
He has concentrated his force upon the south 
side of the York River — a place called York- 


358 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

town. There are some British warships in 
the river ; but Admiral de Grasse has both it 
and the James blockaded.” 

“ But what good will all this do? ” protested 
Tom. “ The Marquis de Lafayette is not 
strong enough to cope with him.” 

“ But,” cried Laura, who had been listen- 
ing, “ General Washington is ! ” 

“ General Washington ! ” 

“ You have missed all the news, my boy. 
Why, Washington has turned his attention 
from Sir Henry Clinton at New York and is 
marching on Cornwallis at Yorktown.” 

“ Then to deliver my dispatches I must 
turn back ! ” exclaimed Tom, with sinking 
heart. “ My father is a prisoner upon the Ben- 
bow frigate at New York ; and I had hoped to 
have him exchanged when I got there.” 

“ The Benbow ! ” Uncle Ben stared at him. 
“ Why, the Benbow is not at New York. She 
is one of the vessels in York River.” 

“ You are sure ! ” Tom grasped his arm 
excitedly. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 359 

“ I am positive.” The old man took a 
letter from the cupboard. “ It’s from your 
Uncle Dick,” he continued, “ and was sent up 
by means of a trading craft which he boarded 
down the bay.” 

Tom read the letter eagerly. The Benbow 
was the vessel whose boats they had attacked 
that night in Charleston harbor. Before pro- 
ceeding north she sailed, with several hun- 
dred slaves taken from the plantations of 
patriots in the Carolinas, for the West Indies, 
to help replenish the coffers of the king by their 
sale. This occupied some months, and on her 
way from there to New York with her white 
prisoners she was met by the Defence and three 
French ships of war. A running fight lasting 
several days was the result, and it ended at 
length by the Englishman running into the 
Chesapeake and up the York River where she, 
together with the other British ships, was 
prevented from coming out by the fleet of Ad- 
miral de Grasse. 

“ The Benbow is blockaded in the York 


360 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

River ! ” Tom almost shouted the words. 
“ And my father is on board ! I now have two 
reasons to reach Yorktown in time; to see Wash- 
ington thrash Cornwallis, and set my father 
free.” 

No time was lost ; and he at once set out 
upon the return journey with Cole. Both 
Sultan and Dando seemed to feel the impa- 
tience of their masters, and the journey was 
made at a remarkable pace ; they scarcely 
stopped to sleep at all, and were it not for 
their faithful horses would not have once dis- 
mounted on the way. 

Tom’s wish was granted ; they arrived be- 
fore any decisive steps were taken. On 
August 23d, De Grasse had landed two thou- 
sand French troops under St. Simon to rein- 
force Lafayette. On September 30th, Wash- 
ington had reached Yorktown, after a long 
series of rapid marches, and was at once joined 
by Lafayette and St. Simon. A British fleet made 
an attempt to ascend the York and relieve Corn- 
wallis, but was driven off by Admiral de Grasse. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 361 

Tom found that Washington had posted 
the French in front, and on the right of 
the besieged town, extending from the river 
above to the morass in the centre, where 
they were met by the Americans, who ex- 
tended to the river below. The young 
swamp-rider had arrived on October 6th ; 
and for two days and nights he and Cole slept 
almost without a break. It was on the even- 
ing of the 8th that they first reported for 
duty to Lafayette. 

“ The general is engaged/' said the sentry 
at the door of the marquis's quarters. “ Gen- 
eral Washington is with him." 

General Washington ! Tom had not, as 
yet, laid eyes upon the great Virginian, so he 
waited near by. As it happened, Lafayette 
heard his voice at the door, and sent an offi- 
cer out to bid him enter. Tom obeyed with 
a beating heart ; the French officer stood by 
the table in the centre of the room, and in the 
background were grouped a number of dis- 
tinguished Americans and Frenchmen. But it 


362 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

was the figure at the table that took the young 
scout’s attention ; it was that of a large man 
with a calm, noble face, and the air of one who 
commanded by natural right. His hands 
rested upon the table before him, and his 
eyes were fixed upon a youth who stood op- 
posite him, under guard. Tom could not re- 
strain a cry of surprise at sight of him. The 
youth was Mark Harwood ! 

At the cry Washington looked toward Tom, 
inquiry in his quiet eyes. Lafayette stepped 
forward. 

“ Pardon me, general, but this is the youth 
of whom I have already spoken to you.” 

“ Ah, yes.” Washington’s face lit up with 
one of his rare smiles. “ I am pleased to 
meet so brave a soldier,” said he, addressing 
Tom. “ I have heard of your service with 
Generals Marion and Greene ; and also of 
what you have done since you joined General 
de Lafayette. Believe me, your country is 
proud of such sons ; and while she has such 
she is unconquerable.” 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 363 

The young man’s face burned with pleas- 
ure ; praise from Washington was praise in- 
deed, and as he noted the smiles of the offi- 
cers gathered about, he felt that they, too, 
thought the same. 

After a few moments, the commander-in- 
chief turned to a captain who stood at Mark 
Harwood’s side. 

“ Captain Lacey,” said he, “ take this man 
away.” 

“ Will you not use my information, then?” 
cried young Harwood, his face going pale. 
“It is accurate ; it will be of great service to 
you. I was trusted by Lord Cornwallis and 
I can tell you his positions ; I can tell you 
how ” 

“ Enough,” Washington waved his hand. 
“ Have you no shame — have you no man- 
hood ? You were trusted by General Corn- 
wallis, and now that you fancy him on the 
verge of defeat, you come to me and offer to 
betray him. Captain Lacey, take him away.” 

“ Wait ! ” Mark sprang toward the table 


364 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

at which Washington sat. “ I can prove to 
you — to all here — that my information is 
worth your while.” 

“ I never deal with traitors,” returned Gen- 
eral Washington, sternly. 

Mark’s face grew even more white as he 
saw the expression in the American general’s 
eyes ; in desperation he turned to Tom. 

“ Tom Deering, tell them who I am. You 
know me ; you know whether I have Corn- 
wallis’ secrets or no.” 

Washington looked with sudden surprise at 
Tom. 

“ Do you know this person ? ” he asked. 

Tom flushed. “ I answer with shame,” 
said he, “ he Is my cousin.” 

“ There,” cried Mark, “ did I not say he 
knew me. Ask him about my likelihood to 
have valuable information ; he can tell 
you.” 

“ Silence ! ” broke in General de Lafayette, 
angrily. 

“ He is my cousin,” repeated Tom, steadily. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 365 

“ He is a Tory and was a companion of Clar- 
age, Fannin and Gainey in Carolina.” 

“ Ah ! ” Washington’s eyes flashed as he 
listened. “ So he was leagued with those ruf- 
fians ! Well, that he should now turn traitor 
is no more than might have been expected.” 

“ What disposition shall we make of him, 
general ? ” inquired Captain Lacey, his hand 
on Mark Harwood’s shoulder. 

“ Drive him back to the British lines,” said 
Washington, briefly. 

“ No, no,” cried Mark, in sudden panic, 
“ not that ! Why, they would have no mercy 
upon me now ; they would shoot me at 
sight.” 

“ Take him away,” said de Lafayette, 
shortly. 

Two stout infantrymen were summoned, 
and they dragged the traitor to the door, de- 
spite his struggles. 

“ Don’t send me back to the British,” 
shrieked he, mad with fear, “ don’t send me 
back to my death. See, upon my knees, I 


366 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

beg of you. I will do anything — tell you 
anything — and not ask a penny in payment ; 
only don’t send me back ; don’t send me 
back.” 

The coward was dragged gasping, livid, 
and screaming away. Tom heard afterward 
that Mark had been driven back into York- 
town by a half dozen French and American 
soldiers who pricked him with the points of 
their bayonets whenever he showed a dispo- 
sition to lag. What happened upon his ar- 
rival there Tom never knew ; at any rate that 
was the last he ever saw of him. 

On the evening of the next day — the 9 th 
of October — the American batteries opened on 
the town at a distance of some six hundred 
yards ; and so heavy was the fire that many 
of the British guns were dismounted and 
silenced. Shells and red hot balls reached 
the enemy’s frigates in the harbor, several of 
which were burned. By the evening of the 
11th the Americans had advanced to within 
three hundred yards of the British lines. 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 367 

On tlie 14th Tom Deering participated in an 
attack upon a redoubt, on the left, and helped 
to carry it by assault ; almost at the same time 
a party of gallant French troops carried an- 
other, on the same side. These were included 
in the works of the besiegers. Nearly a hun- 
dred pieces of heavy ordnance were now 
brought to bear upon the British works, and 
with such effect that the fortifications were 
beaten down and almost every gun rendered 
useless. 

Tarleton’s force was posted at Gloucester 
Point, across the York River ; and, hoping to 
break through the detachment of French 
which Washington had placed in the rear of 
that place, Cornwallis attempted to cross and 
join hands with him. But a violent storm 
came up and scattered his boats after one di- 
vision had succeeded in making the crossing. 
The result was that on the 19th a capitu- 
lation was made, and 7,000 British troops were 
surrendered to Washington. 

Tom entered the captured town with the 


368 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

victorious general and his officers. He stood 
upon a broken quay, with Cole, looking about 
at the wreck which the American gunnery 
had made, a feeling of sadness mingling with 
the joy of the triumph. Suddenly Cole’s 
strange cry sounded, and gazing in the direc- 
tion which the giant’s finger pointed he saw 
the Defence, like a great bird with snowy, out- 
stretched wings, come scudding up the river. 
The schooner had hardly lowered her sails and 
plunged her anchor into the waters when the 
two, having pulled out in a bateau, were upon 
her decks. 

“ Keel haul me, Phil,” cried the voice of 
Captain Deering, “ it’s Tom. It’s Tom ! Your 
son ! ” 

“ Father ! ” cried the youth. “ Father ! 
Where are you ? ” 

He had not caught sight of the man lean- 
ing against the mizzen mast, but who now 
turned and sprang toward him. 

“Tom, my boy,” it was his father’s voice, 
the same old voice whose kind ring he had not 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 369 

heard for these long, long years. And in a 
moment they were locked in each other’s 
arms. After greetings, delighted exclama- 
tions and hugs had been indulged in, the 
planter explained his presence on the De- 
fence. 

“ When Lord Cornwallis surrendered to 
Washington the British ships struck their 
colors to Admiral de Grasse. And as the 
Benbow on which I was a prisoner happened 
to be one of them ” 

“ And as I,” interrupted Captain Deering, 
“ heard that she had prisoners aboard her, I 
got the French admiral’s permission to search 
her well, in the hope that what has happened 
would happen.” He clapped the planter on 
the back. “And here he is, Tom, back 
again ; a little pale and somewhat the worse 
for wear, but not beyond mending by any 
means.” 

They spent several hours comparing notes 
and relating their personal experiences. The 
planter’s eyes glowed as Tom told some of 


370 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

his adventures. He had not had the oppor- 
tunity to serve his country, but he felt that 
his brave boy had done enough for both. 

“ The war will not last much longer/’ said 
Tom, at length. “ This is a blow from which 
the enemy can hardly recover.” 

“ I think you’re right, lad,” spoke Captain 
Deering ; “ the men who do the talking will 
now take the place of those who do the fight- 
ing. Peace is not far off.” 

They were right ; but peace did not come 
immediately. Greene, Marion, Sumpter and 
Pinckney were still to strike swift, crushing 
blows in Carolina. Five days after the fall 
of York town, Sir Henry Clinton arrived in 
the Chesapeake with 7,000 men ; but, learning 
that Cornwallis had surrendered, he hastily 
retreated. 

On November 30, 1782, preliminary 

articles of peace were signed at Paris. Sa- 
vannah was evacuated by the British in July 


FIGHTING KING GEORGE 371 

of 1783; New York in November; but 
Charleston did not see the last of the enemy 
until December. Upon the 14th of that 
month the American columns entered the 
city, and those of the enemy retired to their 
ships. Tom Deering, his father, Uncle Dick 
and Cole were among the first to enter ; and 
they sped as fast as their horses could carry 
them to the Deering place. The slaves re- 
ceived them with joy, and soon everything 
was placed in order. 

Not long afterward Laura was brought back 
by Uncle Dick in the Defence ; and one of 
the first things which Mr. Deering did, after 
his four thousand pounds had been recovered 
from the old well, was to see that the papers 
declaring Cole a free man were made out. 

It was in vain that Cole protested, 

“ I don’t want to be a free nigger,” signaled 
he, complainingly, to Tom. “ I want to live 
here on this plantation.” 

Tom patted the giant negro’s great shoulder. 

“ It would be the most unhappy day of my 


372 FIGHTING KING GEORGE 

life, Cole, to see you leave the plantation,” 
said he. “ But after what you have done, we 
can’t hold you in slavery. You must be a 
free man — as free, as completely at liberty as 
our country.” 






































































* 








































































. 






























* 
































